Highland Officer's Doublet - 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot

As a result of publishing an image of the Scottish Feathered Bonnet, I received an email from someone with an interest in the Black Watch in the Crimean War. Thus I thought I would publish this excellent example of the traditional highland military dress.

The 42nd Regiment of Foot, more commonly known today as The Black Watch, landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Highland Brigade, 1^st Division, English Army of the East.  Their battle honours include Alma, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

The coat in this photograph is the scarlet doublet, introduced in 1855, and worn by Black Watch officers during the later part of the Crimean War, at least through 1856.  Although the facings on collar and slash cuffs appear black, this is a regiment designated as ‘Royal’, therefore, the facings are a very dark blue.

The doublet has two rows of nine each regimental pattern diamond-shaped highland buttons down the front.  Each button bears a crown over the number ‘42’.  There are two ‘Inverness’ style skirts on the lower front with three buttons each, and loops of gold braid.  There were short skirts on the rear as well.

The single row of braid and the crescent badge on both sides of the collar indicate that an Ensign wore this particular doublet. Ensigns were not only Second Lieutenants in the Crimean period, but often carried the colour or colours – the Ensign of the regiment and the Queen’s colour.

Although the doublet shows campaign wear, and a roughly hand-stitched mend under the left arm, there is no specific evidence it saw action in the Crimea.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of The Black Watch Museum, Perth, Scotland.