Montgomerie, from 1796, 12th Earl of Eglinton, had served in the 77th (1st Highland Regiment) from 1757-1763 and was senior Major of the Argyll Fencibles during the American War. In 1793 he raised the West Lowland Fencibles. Although recruited in Ayrshire and other solidly lowland areas at Montgomerie's insistence it wore highland dress.

The portrait by Copley from which this illustration is taken is usually held to represent Montgomerie in the uniform of the 77th but both the cut of the uniform and the style of the sporran very clearly indicate that it is the uniform of the West Lowland. A copy of the portrait in the Ayr Town House is indeed marked as such.

Scarlet coat with green facings and white lining. Buttons, lace and epaulettes are silver and there is a red heart device on the turnback rather than the thistle worn by most Scots regiments. The waistcoat is white and the belted plaid is of the usual Government Sett. It appears rather lighter and greener than most modern "Black Watch" tartars but this appears to be quite common. The blue bonnet has a rather narrow chequered band (the usual red and green on white) with an unusually broad black binding. The ostrich feathers are black and there is a black cockade on the left. Unfortunately it is not possible from the orientation of the portrait to see the colour of the hackle or whether there is a badge superimposed on the cockade. The stockings are the usual red and white diced ones, turned over at the top and secured with a red garter.

The sporran is of spotted sealskin with silver cords and bells and what appears to be a black japanned clasp. The dirk and sheath are black with silver fittings and the broadsword has a a steel Glasgow style hilt.

The full highland dress depicted here was worn only by the officers. The rank and file wore a similar uniform but had tartan trousers instead of plaids.

More Notes

Lt. John Urquhart
Oporto
Colonel Hugh Montgomerie