[Toby Purcell]

Bandmaster, yes, most certainly. However, it is not a 'doublet', but a Scottish pattern serge frock. Doublets were full dress garments, and marked by uniquely distinctive 'Inverness Flaps' on the skirts. The equivalent of the 'tunic' worn by the rest of the line, they were also made from a super-smooth cloth, with a fine nap, known as Doeskin.

Conversely the serge frock seen here was made from a more coarse cloth in which you can see the warp and weft as it forms ridges in the cloth, and also had simple pointed pocket flaps in the skirt with three lines of doubled braid or piping as decoration. The frock was generally an undress garment and when worn in India was unlined, but it was used there in lieu of full dress doublets that were heavily padded or quilted and too warm to wear in such a hot climate. The doublets were also comparatively expensive and damaged by sweat.

You can see images of the two garments in dress regulations for the British Army 1900, and I enclose some photos below. Note the Inverness flaps that appeared at front and back, compared with the simplicity of the frock. Other regiments of the line also wore a serge frock, but without the uniquely Scottish features.

The Scottish frock was primarily worn by the three lowland regiments and used in lieu of the white, waist length 'drill order' shell jacket. Highland regiments only used the scarlet serge frock, in the field, prior to its replacement by SD in 1902, although it was used by those highland battalions in India, as explained above (see B&W photo of HLI soldier).