The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders had been at Gibraltar since 1879 and sailed to Egypt in August 1882, disembarking on the 19th. They camped at Ramleh outside Alexandria before the Highland Brigade moved to Ismalia. This photo was either taken at Gibraltar or Alexandria.
The officers wear either kilts or boots and breeches, or trousers. The undress frock is identifiable by the gauntlet-style cuffs and gold braid on the base of the collar. It is scarlet with blue facings. A metal regimental badge is on each side of the collar. One officer has shoulder straps edged in gold but for the others the shoulder straps are plain scarlet. The figure seated in the middle with miniature medals is the commanding officer, Lt-Colonel Leith, in a plain frock but with badges on the collar. His helmet is dark, having been coloured with khaki for the coming campaign. One other officer has a khaki helmet but the rest have white, some with badges on the front and some without.
The officers have a variety of leather straps and belts, demonstrating that there was little uniformity. A broadsword can be seen, held by the officer seated on the right of the photo and it would be expected that the other kilted officers have broadswords. The officers in breeches or trousers have infantry swords as worn for mounted duty.
