This example of a dress sporran of the Cameron Highlanders has 79 on the gilt cantle dating it prior to 1881 when the regimental ranking 79th was officially dropped. A painting by M A Hayes dated 1847 shows an officer wearing this pattern of sporran, whereas a painting by MacClevesly dated 1840 shows officers wearing the previous pattern. The gilt cantle is richly decorated with a thistle design and has battle honours for PENINSULA EGYPT and WATERLOO. There is no Sphinx with the Egypt honour. The goats' hair is grey brown and overlaid with six finely worked tassels, netted at the top and having gold bullion twists. These are hung from twisted cords of gold and blue formed into figures of 8.
Behind the goats' hair is a red Morocco backing with a chamois leather pocket. The sporran was hung from a black leather waistbelt worn under the doublet. Sporrans worn after 1881 were almost identical except that the 79 was replaced by a silver crowned thistle inside a gilt oval bearing the regimental title of Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.
