This sketch by F Newhouse is wildly inaccurate but must be based on observation and unreliable memory. The title of the watercolour sketch is 79th Cameron Highlanders 1825 Full Dress. But the drawing of the tartan makes no attempt to show the Cameron of Erracht sett, and the officer has no sporran. The front of the ‘full dress’ jacket has no gold lace, although the green lapelled front is there. The tall feather bonnet appears to be based on a blue cap as glimpsed on the front of the bonnet. But the white plume is not on the left side as it should be. He seems to have gold wings so must be a Grenadier Company officer.
The officer with his back to us has a blue cap with a very long green plume but no black ostrich feathers, the same style of cap is worn by the men paraded in the background. They represent the Light Company. The unusual style of cap seems to indicate that Newhouse must have observed this scene, and recorded it to give us valuable information on the variations of dress in the regiment.They wear green fronted red coats, and the black smudges at waist level are probably sporrans. Both officers appear to be wearing the tartan scarf but without any hanging fly.
The word ‘Cameronians’ beneath the figures is misleading as the 79th ceased to be called by that name in 1806. The 26th Regiment were named Cameronians in 1782 but did not wear Scottish uniform until they became Rifles in 1881.
