The King’s Own Borderers became the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 1887 and all ranks adopted Scottish dress for the first time. The Infantry tunic was replaced by a doublet and the blue trousers were replaced by tartan trews. The doublet was distinctive because of the Inverness skirts and the gauntlet-style cuffs. The regiment was hoping to be issued with trews of the Leslie tartan but they had to be content with government pattern, which they called McChilders tartan after the inept and overbearing Hugh Childers, Secretary for War from 1880 to 1882. The blue home service helmet was worn from 1878 to 1903.
This Simkin print shows the Colour-sergeant badges on his right sleeve only. Three gold lace chevrons, embroidered crossed flags and a crown above. The NCO is armed with a Lee-Metford rifle Mk1 which was in use from 1887 to 1896. The magazine allowed the soldiers to reload by pulling back the bolt, a great improvement on the Martini-Henry rifle. However, the bullets produced a cloud of smoke when fired so that a Mk2 version was developed which used improved ammunition.
