Piper 1856

A photo taken immediately after the Crimean War. The details of this piper's uniform are very clear.' The double-breasted green doublet was worn from 1855 for only one year before it was changed to a single-breasted style.' The buttons on this early garment are diamond shaped but were changed to round buttons for the single-breasted doublet.' He has green tufts on his shoulders, and an edging to the collar, cuffs and Inverness pockets that may be yellow. The black leather belts on his shoulder and around his waist are clearly defined in this photo.' He has a broadsword, and a dirk attached to the waistbelt.' The pipe banner is blue, with an embroidered XLII in the middle and a garter in the top corner that encircles St Andrew and another device. The puzzling thing is the plaid scarf across his chest which does not appear to have a tartan pattern although close scrutiny does reveal a pattern.' The early photos do not show yellow as a pale colour and this may be why it looks like the government tartan rather than the more colourful Royal Stewart. Certainly his kilt has a faint check visible.' The other explanation is that the government tartan was used initially when the uniform change was made in 1855 and then changed back to the Royal Stewart the following year. The tartan worn by the bandsman in the 1865 photo clearly shows the pale lines on the Stewart tartan so this photo of our bearded piper may well be proof that the government tartan was worn in 1855-6 at least.'

Regimental Details | Pipers and Musicians