Private William Walker had the unfortunate nickname of ‘Grim Death’ on account of his job as hospital orderly. This gives us a poor impression of the medical facilities in the regiment. The photo, slightly out of focus, was taken c1850 by David Octavius Hill. This copy photo is part of a series of six on display at Edinburgh Castle, photographed by me in August 2023. Walker wears the same order of dress as Private Charles Mackay apart from an extra badge on his cap. The regimental badge of St Andrew holding his cross surrounded by a wreath of thistles has 79 beneath and a badge above that looks like a stringed bugle which would indicate his being in the Light Company.
