The Regimental Sergeant Major wears dress uniform with an undress glengarry cap. His doublet is unique to his rank, being high quality scarlet cloth with blue collar and cuffs. There is half-inch gold lace along the top of the collar and cuffs, and gold Russia braid along the base of the collar, the button loops on the cuffs and skirts, and around the edges of the scarlet shoulder straps. His collar badges would be metal rather than embroidered like the officers. On the right arm only there are four gold lace rank stripes with an embroidered crown above.
He wears the regimental tartan in the sett of Cameron of Erracht; a kilt and a shoulder plaid worn in the style known as a scarf. This way of wearing the plaid was also worn by officers in levée dress, and officers, such as the CO and adjutant when they were mounted, having breeches instead of a kilt. It was also the privilege of pipers and bandsmen to wear the plaid as a scarf. The plaid was pinned at the left shoulder with a regimental pattern brooch.
This Players cigarette card was part of a series published in the inter-war years but shows the RSM as he appeared in 1908. The information on the back of the card says this about the 4th Battalion:
‘In 1859 a number of Volunteer companies were raised around Inverness by various clan chiefs of the neighbourhood, and in 1865 were grouped into a battalion called the Inverness Highland Rifle Volunteers. In 1887 these became the 1st Volunteer Battalion Cameron Highlanders, and in 1908 the 4th Bn The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, T.F., serving as such in the Great War.’
The battalion is first mentioned in the 1909 Army Lists as the 4th Battalion (Territorial Force Battalion) based at the regimental depot at Inverness. The background of the card shows Inverness Castle. The 1st Battalion were at Tidworth, the 2nd Battalion were in Tientsin, and the 3rd Battalion (Highland Light Infantry Militia) at Inverness.
