This photograph was taken in Edinburgh on 25 April 1863. The sergeants are mostly in scarlet dress tunics but wearing undress pillbox caps with a brass 25 on the front. The diced cap‑band had been discontinued in 1855 but was restored in May 1864.
There is one officer, seated on the right, wearing a blue frock‑coat and peaked cap. He has a crimson sash on his left shoulder, whereas the sergeants wear theirs on the right. Standing next to him is the Quartermaster‑Sergeant in a scarlet waist‑length shell jacket with four gold‑laced stripes and a star on his right forearm. His cap is peaked. Behind the officer stands the band sergeant, wearing a white tunic with blue facings.
On the left of the photograph is a blurred seated figure who is the Regimental Sergeant‑Major, with rank stripes and crown on his right forearm. It is unclear whether he wears a tunic or a gold‑laced shell jacket, but gold shoulder cords appear to be present. The Regimental and Queen’s Colours are held at the back by two Colour‑Sergeants. The man holding the Regimental Colour on the left has a single rank stripe on his right arm. These Colour‑Sergeant stripes can also be seen on two centrally seated figures.
The drums at the front are band instruments rather than from the Corps of Drums. The large time‑beater’s drum is central, with a snare drum on either side. One drummer from the Corps of Drums stands on the left, distinguished by the white leather drum‑carriage belt on his right shoulder. His scarlet tunic has shoulder wings and lace down the front of the sleeves.
The photos are taken by kind permission from Badges and Insignia of The King’s Own Scottish Borderers by Hiram Dunn.
