Bandmaster, Seaforth Highlanders, 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 Bandmaster wears a black feather bonnet, and his scarlet doublet has double inverness flaps decorated with buttons and gold braiding at the front and rear, which hang down below a white leather belt. The yellow cuffs and collars, as well as the seams of the doublet, are piped white with gold braiding, as he is a senior non-commissioned officer. Regimental insignia can be seen on his collars, sporran cantle, belt clasp and plaid brooch with stag's head. The collar badges are a pair, consisting of the cypher of the Duke of York over the Seaforth's motto, together with the elephant for the Battle of Assaye in 1803 (2nd Maratha War).

He wears a tartan kilt with his fly plaid cast over his shoulder. The sporran is white white horsehair with two black horse tassels. He holds his claymore basket-hilted sword, which is attached to his sword belt. In his other hand he holds his conductor's baton. His rank is indicated by the badge on his lower sleeve - a crowned lyre in a wreath.

He wears five medals on his left breast, indicating significant previous service. They appear to be: Afghanistan Medal (1878-1880); Kabul to Kandahar Star (1880); Egypt Medal (1882); Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Khedive's Star (1882).

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives, associated with Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1893 (c)-1900.