The commanding officer of the Cape Town Highlanders was John Scott who, due to the increase in the strength of the regiment, attained the rank of major in 1887. In 1889 the CTH had a change of uniform, from green doublets to red with yellow facings. The silver metal thistle collar badge can just be seen. The lace on his collar, cuffs and the edges of the flapped Inverness skirts was silver up until 1903 when it was changed to gold. The regiment was kilted, but Major Scott wears black boots and tartan breeches, the normal mode of dress for a commanding officer of an infantry regiment, as he was entitled to ride a horse on parade. The breeches and full plaid are in the Gordon tartan. His sword is slung from a white shoulder belt, a normal infantry sword, not the basket-hilted broadsword carried in dismounted order. Also in 1889 the glengarry bonnet was altered from plain blue to blue with a red and white diced cap-band, later changed to red, blue and white. On the left side of the bonnet is the first pattern silver badge and a blackcock’s tail feather.
