This composite image of the two sides of a piper of the 79th Cameron Highlanders was painted by CCP Lawson, copied from original coloured sketches by Auguste Raffet who observed the regiment when they were stationed at Gibraltar in 1847. The green uniform is strikingly different from the red uniform worn by the company soldiers of the regiment, and the white uniform worn by the drummers and bandsmen. At this stage the pipers were still not officially recognised, as it was not until 1854 that the authorities sanctioned an establishment of a pipe major and five pipers for each of the Highland regiments.
The cap has an eagle feather which remained customary for the rest of the life of the regiment. The jacket is embellished with silver shoulder cords and lace on the collar. A black waist-belt supports a dirk, normally worn on the right side, but this piper, as the caption says, is ‘sans claymore’ so his broadsword and the black shoulder belt that usually supported it are not worn. The tartan kilt and shoulder plaid are in the tartan of Cameron of Erracht, but the bag of the pipes is plain green. Both sides of the pipe banner show that it is green with a small Union Flag in the upper canton, and the number LXXIX within a wreath of thistles. No battle honours were displayed at this time.
