The scarlet doublet was only worn in full dress, and only by the corps of drums who were commanded by the drum major. The rest of the regiment had green no.1 dress for ceremonial occasions. The drum major’s doublet is unique in that it has gold lace on the blue collar and cuffs, and the gold braided Inverness flaps. The blue shoulder wings are also laced with gold. The jacket is fastened down the front with buttons and has a gold lace edge. On each side of the collar are badges of the Gordon Highlanders; embroidered Hindoostan Tigers facing inwards. The badges worn on the right arm are, from the top, the regimental appointment badge inherited from the Gordon Highlanders, worn by the drum major and the pipe major. Below that, the drum badge worn by all the drummers except that the drum major has a wreath of oak leaves around the embroidered drum. His badge of rank is the group of four gold lace chevrons on blue backing cloth.
The drum major’s embroidered sash is yellow which was the facing colour of the Gordons. In the centre of the sash is the Royal Arms of Scotland, and beneath that is the regimental badge. The detail on the right shows the ornamental drumsticks that are a traditional part of the drum major’s sash. Below the regimental badge are the elephant of the Seaforths, the Tiger of the Gordons and the Sphinx of the Camerons (also the Gordons).
In this order of dress he wears his crimson sergeant’s sash underneath the embroidered sash so that only the tassel shows on his right side. On his right shoulder is a white belt to support his broadsword. The waist-belt is gold laced. The tartan worn by the corps of drums, the band and the pipers is Cameron of Erracht, whereas the officers and men wear the Gordon tartan. This NCO wears a shoulder plaid which hangs over his left arm. The feather bonnet has four foxtails hanging on the right side and a white hackle on the left.
The photo is taken from British Army Badges (2005) by Lt-Col Robin Hodges. The caption says that this Drum Major is named as Drummy Clarke.
