After the defeat of the Jacobites in 1746, the Highlands were subjected to the drastic Clearances, and Highland dress and weapons were forbidden. Similarly, bagpipes were banned and they were not heard until much later in the 18th century. When the government permitted the raising of Highland regiments for the British Army, bagpipes were also allowed but pipers were not placed on the official establishment.
Highland pipers have traditionally worn a different uniform to the rest of the regiment but this painting by Douglas Anderson illustrates a piper from the early days of the 79th. Drummers wore reverse colour jackets i.e. green with red facings, but they were officially sanctioned. Pipers were maintained at the expense of the colonel and were probably soldiers who happened to be skilled pipers. The jacket is open at the front apart from where hooks and eyes meet around the middle of the lapels. His feather bonnet is taller than would be expected at this stage, and has a white hackle which suggests that he was attached to the grenadier company.
It is not known for certain when pipers' uniform changed to green but an illustration of Piper Kenneth MacKay earning fame at the battle of Waterloo shows that pipers were wearing the same uniform as the men in 1815. Mackay demonstrated the importance of bagpipe music to the Highlander, and in particular to the encouragement of soldiers in battle. Their duties were to complement the drummers in sounding the calls of daily poutine, to encourage the regiment on campaign and in battle, and to play for off-duty soldiers the music which is such an inherent part of Highland life and tradition.
