3-066-112 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Scottish Volunteers: sergeant of the Border Rifles (Full Dress), 1881. British army soldier. 'The Border Riflemen still adhere to their original uniform as regards its material - a steel-grey cloth, which they may be said to make for themselves, either at Galashiels or Selkirk. It was adopted as one of the Government patterns (No. 6537), and, with the brown leather belts, which are worn, it is considered to make a very serviceable and at the same time soldier-like uniform - more suitable for a Volunteer corps, though, of course, less showy than the scarlet, which has now become so general. On their helmet-plates the Borderers wear by authority as their badge the crest of the house of Douglas - the heart ensigned by an Imperial crown - with the motto, "Do or die".' From "Illustrated London News", 1881.