The Boer War inspired a large number of cigarette card sets depicting the regiments serving in South Africa, both British and Colonial. The Cape Town Highlanders were a popular regiment and the cards helped to spread their fame beyond South Africa. They all wear the white helmet which was adopted in 1889 when the regiment changed from rifle green doublets to scarlet. In dress uniform, brass or gilt spikes were attached to the top, and white metal badges worn on the front. The sporrans were an imitation of those worn by the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. The left hand figure is clearly holding a Martini Henry rifle and the figure in the middle would seem to be holding the same type. However, a week after the outbreak of the Boer War the regiment was issued with the long magazine Lee-Metford.
