This detail from a group photo of different types of the 79th in 1891 shows a drummer wearing a scarlet doublet with blue facings. The collar and cuffs were green up until 1873 when the regiment became the 79th Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.The doublet is decorated with drummer’s lace that has a red crown pattern repeated. This universal pattern was introduced in 1866. The lace follows the seams on the sleeves and on the back, collar and wings. The chevron on his sleeve is a good conduct stripe, and he has a crossed muskets badge for shooting proficiency. On his collar are small white metal regimental badges of a crowned thistle. He has medals for service in Egypt in the 1880s.
Around his waist is a white belt which supports a dirk on his right hip which at some point replaced the short drummer’s sword. The drum is plain brass and hooked onto a drum carriage, a white belt on his right shoulder, with a buckle and slide. A cord on his left shoulder supports a bugle which hangs on his right hip. The cord would have been green up until 1873 but when the regiment became royal the cords were changed to a mixture of red, yellow and blue.
