This photo shows a good cross section of non-commissioned types in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders before the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 Sep 1882. Two of the men in this photo were casualties of the battle. Lance Corporal William Cattanach of C Company, third from the left, died of his wounds, and Colour Sergeant Frank Chapman of G Company, fourth from left, was wounded. The most senior man here is Quartermaster Sergeant Emslie, in the centre, showing his rank as four inverted gold chevrons with a small embroidered 8-pointed star above. He is armed with a broadsword and pistol, and his frock is embellished with gold lace. They all wear scarlet undress frocks which have scarlet cuffs but a blue collar, with regimental thistle and crown badges. The white shoulder straps and pouches are part of the 1871 valise equipment, worn with a white canvas haversack slung from the right shoulder.
The tall bearded man at the back is Pioneer Sergeant Finlay, with an axe instead of a Martini Henry rifle. Colour Sergeant Chapman has a long sword bayonet as befitted his status, while Lance Sergeant Ferguson has a smaller socket bayonet like the rank-and-file. On the left of the photo is Corporal Christie, wearing leathered trousers and carrying a whip. Another photo shows him with a rifle slung across his back. Christie is a driver of some sort of cart or vehicle, perhaps the all-important water-cart. Next to him is Drummer Anderson holding a bugle. He is armed only with a decorative dirk, attached to his waist-belt. On the right of the picture is Lance Corporal Piper Graham wearing a green frock that has square-shaped buttons instead of round like the others. His sporran has a different cantle, with three silver knobs on the silver top edge.
