The tattered remains of the Colours which featured in McClevesly’s painting were laid up in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh in 1854. This painting depicts the Colours accurately (apparently) so that the gold central device was not all gold after all. Both the Regimental Colour on the right, and the Queen’s Colour on the left have battle honours. The 79th Cameron Highlanders were allowed 10 honours at that time, however we can see only 5 on the green Regimental Colour, which, if undamaged, would have shown another three to balance it up. There is no sign of the Sphinx which normally took pride of place at the top or the base of the central device. It would be expected that ‘Waterloo’ would have been given a special place on the Colours.
The Queen’s Colour on the left also has 5 visible battle honours, one being in the top canton. PENINSULA is at the top centre in both cases. The other honours common to both Colours are FUENTES D’ONOR, SALAMANCA, and NIVE. NIVELLE can be seen on the Regimental Colour but not the Queen’s Colour. And there are no crowns above the central oval inscribed ‘Cameron Highlanders’ These Colours were replaced by the 4th Stand of Colours presented to the regiment in April 1854 at Portsmouth by Mrs J Elliot, wife of the Colonel of the Regiment.
