Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
Speaking firstly of the Highland soldiers in general (not pipers) as far as I know those double-breasted doublets weren't worn during the Crimean War, but introduced afterwards. The coatee, worn since around 1800, was still used in the Crimea. (A coatee has tails in the back, and cut straight across in front.)

The famous photos of Crimean War veterans shows them wearing the new 1855 Doublets, but note that the doublets look brand-new, because they were!





That style Doublet- double-breasted with square buttons- was introduced in 1855 and only lasted one year, being replaced by single-breasted doublets with round buttons in 1856.

(The 1856-1868 style doublet)



Pipers are a different matter, and each Regiment was a law unto itself.

Pipers of the 79th (Cameron Highlanders) had been wearing dark green doublets since 1841.

Pipers of the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) had been wearing red doublets since around 1850.

I'm not sure of the exact timeline of uniform for 42nd pipers. In 1840 one can be seen in a red coatee as worn by the rest of the regiment. But at some point they seem to have been put into Black Watch tartan coatees.



Presumably when the entire Highland infantry was put into doublets in 1855 the Black Watch pipers were given Black Watch tartan doublets. As Peter mentions the kilts and plaids would have been the Black Watch Music Tartan.


Thanks for your answer.

It would be correct that, at the time of making the famous photos of Crimean veterans, Piper Muir photographīs shows a double breasted doublet without inverness flaps, with Black Watch design, and kilt and plaid with the Black Watch Music Tartan??