Unknown Militia photos

**OC Richard** · 14th October 20, 03:39 PM

The experts here will probably know what units these men are members of, photos I have in my Unknown file.

Some appear to be Victorian militia units, others I can only guess.

Obviously a Rifles or Light Infantry unit, but which?

The sporran badge looks like a Royal Scots cap badge, but the rest of the uniform looks nothing like Royal Scots pipers.

**figheadair** · 14th October 20, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

The experts here will probably know what units these men are members of, photos I have in my Unknown file.

Some appear to be Victorian militia units, others I can only guess.

Richard,

The tartan looks like MacPherson, Hunting and so I'm pretty sure that this one can only be the 6th Inverness Rifles.

**figheadair** · 14th October 20, 10:57 PM

There were numerous Victorian Volunteer Bns and then a huge number of Territorial Regiments formed under the 1908 Haldane Reforms.

I assume that you have access to Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859-1908 by Maj Gen JM Grierson?

**figheadair** · 14th October 20, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

The experts here will probably know what units these men are members of, photos I have in my Unknown file.

Some appear to be Victorian militia units, others I can only guess.

Looks like Gordon, possibly Lamont, tartan. Possibly one of the many Aberdeenshire Volunteer Bns,

**figheadair** · 14th October 20, 11:49 PM

Some interesting information here - http://scottishmilitaryresearch.weeb...hotographs.pdf

**blackwatch70** · 15th October 20, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

The sporran badge looks like a Royal Scots cap badge, but the rest of the uniform looks nothing like Royal Scots pipers.

They are 2nd Battalion of Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) pipers. After 1881.

**blackwatch70** · 15th October 20, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

The experts here will probably know what units these men are members of, photos I have in my Unknown file.

Some appear to be Victorian militia units, others I can only guess.

IMHO, it's 96th Highland Rifle Militia (1860-1881). The bonnet and doublet of Rifle green,all the piping in black. Kilt of "wide" MacKenzie sett, the sporran being a dark hair one with 3 black tassels and brass cantle. The hose have black and red dicing, the gaiters are brown.
In 1881 the battalion adopted the uniform and appointments of the Seaforth Highlanders (as 3rd Battalion of Seaforth Hldrs).

**figheadair** · 15th October 20, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by blackwatch70

IMHO, it's 96th Highland Rifle Militia (1860-1881). The bonnet and doublet of Rifle green,all the piping in black. Kilt of "wide" MacKenzie sett, the sporran being a dark hair one with 3 black tassels and brass cantle. The hose have black and red dicing, the gaiters are brown.
In 1881 the battalion adopted the uniform and appointments of the Seaforth Highlanders (as 3rd Battalion of Seaforth Hldrs).

It could be MacKenzie, shame that the resolution is too poor to pick out the red stripe which would clinch it.

**figheadair** · 15th October 20, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by blackwatch70

They are 2nd Battalion of Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) pipers. After 1881.

I didn't know that the 2nd Bn Pipers wore Govt tartan.

**blackwatch70** · 15th October 20, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

I didn't know that the 2nd Bn Pipers wore Govt tartan.

Yes they wore Govt tartan in 1881-1891. The Cameronians did not wear tartan until 1881 when, in common with other Lowland regiments, they adopted the Government tartan. It was only in 1891 that the regiment was authorised to wear the Douglas tartan, which was taken into use the following year.