This is the left hand half of a photo published in the Historical Records of the 79th Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders by T Mackenzie, J Ewart and C Findlay, titled Representative Group of Cameron Highlanders 1887. The regiment departed from Abassiyeh Barracks in Cairo in March 1887, and after four and a half years in Egypt, sailed from Alexandria to Malta where this photo was probably taken.
On the left of the photo is Colour Sergeant J McNeil in parade order with a Colour sergeant’s rank badge on his right arm. In 1869 the previous single stripe with crossed swords on a crowned flagstaff was changed to three gold stripes, two crossed Union flags and a crown above (see below). The same rank badge is on the left sleeve also. In most infantry regiments NCO rank was on the right sleeve only but in certain regiments, namely the Light Infantry, Fusiliers and Highlanders. ranking was shown on both sleeves. Colour Sgt McNeil has a crimson sash on his right shoulder and medals for the war in Egypt. He has a regimental white metal badge on each side of his collar, a crowned thistle.
The Highlander next to him, Private F Cameron, is in marching order, wearing 1882 valise equipment. The valise is carried lower on the back and there are ammunition pouches on the front of his waist-belt holding 40 rounds each. He has an Italian pattern water-bottle behind his right arm, supported by a slim white strap on his left shoulder. The wider white strap on his right shoulder is for his canvas haversack. He and the Colour Sergeant have different rifles, although the photo is not clear. The Highlander holds a Martini Henry breech loader, identified by the white sling which is shorter than the Colour Sergeant’s. The longer sling is attached to a ring near the end of the butt which shows that it must be a Lee Metford.
The corporal in a white shell jacket is on drill order. He is named as H Fraser. The figure on the right is captioned as Pipe Major W McDonald, officially designated as Sergeant Piper since 1881. The quality of the photo does not allow a clear view of the uniform but it can be seen at Sergeant Piper and Piper 1891. The pipe banner has the regiment’s battle honours emblazoned, a privilege of his rank, as they do not appear on the other pipers’ banners. Below is a photo from https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1264972. It is a Colour Sergeant’s badge on the sleeve of a tunic of the Sherwood Foresters. The star badge in the middle indicates that it is a Volunteer Battalion of the regiment.
