The drummer in the centre of this photo, taken in Egypt before the battle of Te-el-Kebir in 1882, wears the same pattern of undress scarlet frock tunic as the others. It has a blue collar and white braid at the base of the collar, and on the cuffs and false hip pocket flaps. The straps on his shoulders cross over at the back and fasten to the waist-belt back and front. They are for his valise equipment when worn in marching order. A strap on his left shoulder holds a water-bottle, and on his right shoulder there are two straps; one is for a canvas haversack, covered by a white leather drum carriage. The drum at his feet is a snare drum, the type more usually played by a percussionist in the band, but used by the drummer on campaign instead of the side drum for ease of movement.
Drummers in the infantry had a dual role as buglers and this man holds a bugle in his right hand. It is strung over his shoulder with a twisted tri-colour cord; blue, yellow and red, with correspondingly coloured tassels. These cords and tassels were the privilege of Royal regiments. Non-royal regiments had green cords, such as were used by the 79th before 1873. The designation ‘Queen’s Own’ granted to them in that year, meant that they became a Royal regiment.
The drummer features in another photo which has the names of the men. He is named as Drummer Anderson which is confusing because the Regimental History refers to the Sergeant-Drummer as Anderson in a list of officers, NCOs and men mentioned in despatches. Perhaps they were related. The other men also appear in the other photo, named as, front row: Lance Sergeant Ferguson, Drummer Anderson and Private Moffat (who has 3 good conduct stripes). In the back row is the bearded Pioneer Sergeant Finlay, Sergeant Grimmond and Corporal Wakelin (who also has a dirk on his belt).
