Photograph of Pipe Major John McDonald standing facing partly right playing the bagpipes. He is wearing Scottish military uniform including a kilt and sporran. A flag hangs from the top of the bagpipes.

Pipe Major John McDonald served with the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) Regiment of Foot during the Crimean War. Throughout the war Queen Victoria had taken an active interest in the welfare of the troops and on their return from the Crimea she met a number of the veterans at Buckingham Palace, Chatham Military Hospital and Aldershot Garrison. Following these meetings she commissioned a series of photographs of the veterans from the photographers Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett.