Pipers, Cameronian (Scottish Rifles), 1895 (c)

Glass negative, W Gregory and Company, 51 Strand, London, 1895 (c).

This image comes from a collection of glass plate negatives associated with William Gregory and Company. The negatives depict the British Army, including some members of the colonial forces, 'at home' in Britain during the 1890s.

As well as being intimate portraits of soldiers from this era, the images provide detailed illustrations of uniforms worn during the high point of military tailoring.

The pipers are wearing the same uniform, which for the Cameronian (Scottish Rifles) is a glengarry cap with a regimental badge (bugle, star and a spray of thistles) and black feathers. Their rifle green doublets have double inverness flaps at the front and rear, which hang down below a large leather belt with a regimental buckle.

They wear a kilt in regimental tartan, and a fly plaid of the same pattern is cast over their shoulder and fastened with a plaid brooch. Their sporrans are made of black horse hair with white tassels, and they carry bagpipes. Their dirks are visibly attached to their belts and both have a skean dhu tucked into their sock.

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives, associated with Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1892 (c)-1900.