post-1868 use of Black Watch band/music tartan

[OC Richard]

Of course we have the famous "Crimean veterans" series of photos one of which shows Pipe Major David Muir of the Black Watch wearing a Black Watch tartan doublet and Black Watch band/music tartan kilt and plaid.

And there's a colour illustration of around the same period showing this.

Later Victorian images of Black Watch pipers show them wearing Royal Stewart kilts and plaids.

When did this change happen? I had thought possibly 1860. Why? I suppose because that was when all Highland regimental pipers were put into green doublets, though there's no reason both changes should go together.

Here are members of the Black Watch in India, said to be 1865, the piper seemingly wearing Royal Stewart.



I was surprised today to see the photo below showing Black Watch pipers, in the style of doublet adopted in 1868, appearing to wear the band or musicians' tartan (or Black Watch tartan which is less likely).

This pushes the change to Royal Stewart later than I had imagined.



The whole photo



I had thought that they might possibly be The Royal Highlanders of Canada, which title dates to 1906, too late for this photo I believe. Previously they had been The Royal Scots of Canada and presumably wouldn't have worn Black Watch uniform.