Gallaher’s series of 50 cigarette cards featuring Regimental Colours and Standards was produced in 1899. The Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders at this time was identical to the 2nd Battalion Colour seen in the photo taken at Balmoral in 1898 apart from the Roman numeral in the top canton. The blue Colour bears the battle honours accrued up to that date; eight on the left and nine on the right with the Sphinx and EGYPT at the base of the laurel wreath on which the honours are placed. These honours include ATBARA and KHARTOUM from the recent campaign in Sudan.
The central device is incorrect because the badge conferred on the regiment in 1873 was the crowned thistle. The thistle minus the crown is in the centre, but on other images of the Colour the thistle is crowned, as well as having the Victorian crown at the head of the Union wreath of roses, shamrocks and thistles.
