"Lachlan Macpherson of Glentruim, Clan Macpherson Chieftain (b 28 June 1835), entered the Army as an Ensign in the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot, and went with that regiment to the Crimea. He took part in three of the major battles -- Alma, Inkerman and Sebastapol, and was invalided home in August 1855. He was awarded the Crimean War Medal with three clasps, the 5th Class of the Order of the Medjidia and the Turkish Medal. A photo of his uniform shako (hat) can been seen with a discussion of the 30th Regiment on the official Clan Macpherson online museum.

Lachlan later served in Canada as a major with the 30th Regiment from 1860-1870 during which time he participated in the defence against the Fenian Raid in 1866. Lachlan attained the rank of Lt.-Colonel before he retired. He died on 12th March 1904."

I am good friends with Lachlan's great-grandson, also named Lachlan. He is now called Glentruim, and has taken up his late father's mantle, as Lachlan Macpherson of Glentruim, Chieftain of a leading Clan Macpherson branch. Looking at the wonderful portrait above, you can see the uniqueness of Lachlan's Highland evening attire. His great-grandson wears the same goat-hair sporran with heraldric, silver cantle and tassel cones, shown in the portrait, for formal occassions.

Beannach'd libh,