Lot 305: MOLLY GUION B. 1910

full-length wearing uniform carrying a drum and bugle, Edinburgh Castle beyond
signed lower left M. Guion

oil on canvas

72 by 48in.; 183 by 122cm

The Dandy Ninth: 7th/9th (Highlanders) Bn. The Royal Scots, the Regimental Council, 1957, reproduced.

Given by the artist to the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences (now the Chrysler Museum of Art), Norfolk, Virginia, in 1963;
By whom deaccessioned, November 1978.

This dashing portrait depicts a drummer of the 7th/9th (Highlanders) Battalion, one of the Territorial Army (TA) Battalions of the Royal Scots. The 7th/9th was an amalgamation of the 7th Battalion and the 9th (Highland) Battalion in 1922. The former recruited in the area of the port of Leith, Edinburgh and the latter was formed in 1900 by 'highland gentlemen' living in Edinburgh. Because of their highland connection they were the only Royal Scot battalion to wear the kilt, the other Royal Scot battalions wore tartan "trews," as they still do today. This kilted attire led to their nickname of the "Dandy 9th." After the amalgamation they retained the highland dress and the present subject is resplendent in feather bonnet with white plume, red highland doublet and kilt of Hunting Stuart tartan. He beats a rope tension side drum and also carries a bugle. His footwear is brogue pattern shoes with spats. After another round of force reductions in 1961, the 7th/9th amalgamated with the 8th Bn to form the 8/9th Battalion, Royal Scots, TA.

We are grateful to David Murphy of The Royal Scots Regimental Museum, Edinburgh for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.