John Macdonald Leith joined the 79th as an ensign on 17 Mar 1854. He went out to the Crimea and took part in the battles of Balaklava and Sebastopol, including the assaults of 18 June and 8 September. He was part of the expedition to Kertch and Yenikale and earned the Crimean and Turkish medal as well as the Order of the Medjidie 5th Class. He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 Oct 1854 and captain on 15 May 1857. He served with the regiment in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in 1858-59. He was at the siege and capture of Lucknow, the attack on the fort of Rooyah, actions of Allygunge, Bareilly and Shahjehanpore, the capture of Forts Bunniar and Mahomdie, the passage of the Gorga at Fyzabad, the capture of Rampore Kussia and subsequent operations in Oude across the Gorga and Raptee Rivers.
He was awarded a brevet of major on 5 July 1872 and was promoted to major on 31 Oct 1877, awarded a brevet of lieutenant-colonel the following year on 31 Dec 1878. He reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 79th from 1 July 1881. He was in command when the regiment was sent to Egypt in 1882, commanded them at Tel-el-Kebir and throughout the Nile campaign of 1884-85 for which he earned the Order of the Medjidie 3rd class. He was promoted to Colonel on 31 Dec 1882. On 31 March 1885, to the great regret of all ranks, Colonel J M Leith CB left the regiment to take up the appointment of Assistant Adjutant-General to the Suakim Field Force. The photo shows him in dress uniform of a colonel of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, with medals which include the Order of the Medjidie 3rd class, the CB, the Crimea medal with two clasps, Indian Mutiny, Egypt 1882, Order of the Medjidie 5th class, Turkish medal and the Khedive’s star.
The photo below shows him in a scarlet frock tunic with tartan breeches and riding boots. He has miniature versions of his medals. This was the uniform worn in Egypt from 1882.
