This officer was photographed, probably in Aberdeen, in 1880. The regiment had sailed to Gibraltar in June 1879 and remained there until they were sent to Egypt in 1882. Adam Gillies Blackburn joined the 79th as a sub-lieutenant on 13 August 1879 and may have been stationed at the depot in Aberdeen, joining the regiment later, either in Gibraltar or Egypt. It is probable that the regiment left their feather bonnets behind in Britain, adopting the usual infantry foreign service helmet for the Mediterranean.
Blackburn wears the 1868 pattern doublet which is scarlet with blue facings (changed from green in 1873). He has a single edging of gold lace on his collar and the top and back edge of his gauntlet-style cuff. His rank is shown on the collar as a crown on each side. He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 June 1880. The full shoulder plaid wraps around his body and falls front and back off his left shoulder, secured with a plaid brooch. He does not have a crimson silk sash, which was worn when on duty, under the plaid.
His broadsword is slung from the white shoulder-belt, and a dirk hangs on his right hip, attached to the gold embroidered waist-belt. The dress sporran of goat hair and gold tassels hangs below his kilt which, like the plaid, is in the tartan sett of Cameron of Erracht. He is in levée dress which means that he has patent leather shoes with a buckle, and green and red hose.
Lieutenant Adam Blackburn fought at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September 1882 where he was seriously wounded. This resulted in the amputation of his leg and the end of his military career.
