The Kilmarnock bonnet cocked is worn by these sergeants and corporals, probably for the last time before dress uniforms were put into store for the duration of the First World War. The bonnets had been issued in 1903 to replace the blue helmet, and the chinstrap was added later to prevent the hat being blown away in high winds.
The scarlet doublets have a blue collar, blue cuffs and blue shoulder straps, with a brass badge on each side of the collar. The sergeants are identified by the three chevrons on the right arm and by the crimson sash on the right shoulder. Five of the NCOs are corporals or lance‑corporals. The seated sergeants have gold chevrons; two are Colour Sergeants, with embroidered crossed flags and a crown above the gold stripes. The flags are two Union flags, the cross of St George clearly visible while the saltires of Scotland and Northern Ireland are faded.
The Band Sergeant seated on the right wears a special doublet with gold lace on the collar and cuffs, and gold braid button‑holes instead of white. His shoulder straps are gold edged and the red shoulder wings have gold lace stripes and edges. A gilding‑metal band badge is above his gold lace stripes. He wears a plaid scarf with a silver plaid brooch on the left shoulder.
The three NCOs in the back row are, from the left: a lance‑corporal with a single white stripe; a gymnastics instructor with embroidered crossed swords over gold stripes; and a lance‑sergeant with three white stripes.
The photo was reproduced in The Scottish Soldier by Stephen Wood (1987). The caption identifies the group as senior NCOs and men of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Dublin 1914. The double‑page spread in the book includes four group photographs with similar backgrounds, one of which shows the battalion signallers with a board dated 1914, confirming the date. The only identifiable medals in this group appear to be South African War medals worn by the Colour Sergeants.
