When serving in tropical stations the no.1 dress green jacket is replaced by a white no.3 dress jacket for ceremonial occasions. The photo shows Pipe Major Gordon when the 1st Battalion were serving in Hong Kong in 1980. He wears the no.3 dress jacket with the kilt and tartan of Cameron of Erracht, but his bagpipes have the Seaforth tartan. From 1961 to 1994 the QO Highlanders consisted of the Seaforths and Camerons; they amalgamated with the Gordon Highlanders in 1994. The black shoulder belt carries a badge that is special to his rank, a circular wreath with a stag’s head and crowned thistle. Below that are the buckle, slide and tip, then a further heart-shaped badge that is not recognisable. On his right sleeve are four gold chevrons and an embroidered piper’s badge.
A dirk can be seen on his right hip, next to the tassel on his crimson sergeant’s sash which is worn under his shoulder plaid. The sporran has the special pattern pipe-major’s cantle and his black waist-belt has a special pattern silver clasp (not seen here) that is generously ornamented with thistles, with the regimental badge in the centre. His glengarry cap has a feather from an eagle’s wing and his pipe banner shows the buff obverse side.
