Officers of the Cameron Highlanders were distinguished by having a very elaborate waist-belt to support the dirk worn on the right hip. The photo shows a section of the belt with the ‘frog’ that supports the dirk. This expensive item was worn from c1856 until the end of full dress, although another pattern was adopted at some point, perhaps for the 2nd Battalion, which had two rows of gold thistle pattern lace with a central black velvet line.
The belt shown here has thistle leaves embroidered with gold wire and sequins, and thistle flowers formed around a bright green silk ball. There is a blue velvet slide and the clasp was a gilt oval with a silver St Andrew and wreath.
