The First World War brought an end to dress uniform, so that khaki service dress was worn until c1938 when battledress was introduced. After World War 2 smarter service dress was worn as well as no.1 dress blue uniform (green for Highland regiments). The Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 brought about the revival of full dress for bandsmen, drummers and pipers. This dress was reserved for ceremonial occasions. Evidence of the full dress for drummers of the Cameron Highlanders from 1953 to 1961 is not available to me.
In 1961 the Camerons amalgamated with the Seaforths to form the Queen’s Own Highlanders. Then again, in 1994 the QOH amalgamated with the Gordons to form The Highlanders. This contemporary illustration painted by Douglas Anderson in 1978 shows a drummer of the QOH post-1961. The uniform retains most of the features of the Cameron Highlanders; the Cameron of Erracht tartan and the blue facings to the scarlet doublet. The doublet, however, does not have the ‘crown and inch’ lace on the sleeves and seams, the lace on the blue wings being plain white. Later photos of drummers in the 1990s show that at some stage the crown and inch lace was restored. The collar badge is the Elephant of the Seaforths. On his bonnet a badge featuring the crowned thistle combined with the stag’s head and motto, worn in the left side.
The cords and tassels attached to the bugle were, at this stage, a mixture of blue and buff. This was an attempt to incorporate the blue facings of the Camerons with the buff facings of the Seaforths. The arrangement of cords and tassels had become more complicated.
