British Infantry Greatcoat 1884-85

[FrankB]

WOW! Thank you very much for the information and pictures. That's what I have been looking for!

[FROGSMILE]

WOW! Thank you very much for the information and pictures. That's what I have been looking for!

As a footnote I am not sure that the hoods that I mentioned and that are shown in one of your pics 4 & 5 are not in fact the capes folded back in a particular way (?). Perhaps others can comment.

[Dixie]

Sorry to re-open an older thread but I wanted to clarify a couple of points!

From the discussions I understand that the coat & cape changed around the 1890's. Priot to that, would the coat have had the turned back cuffs and shoulder straps that the current guards coats do?

Someone mentioned that the rank stripes were were worn on the cape prior to the 1890's. Is anyone able to provide more information or examples of this? I would assume in this case that NCO's would have to wear either both the cape & coat, or cape only, as the greatcoat only would not show their rank?

Thanks

James

The double breasted coats that you see are the officers' pattern and the single breasted in the pictures below are for the other ranks.

Until sometime in the 1890s the coats were in 2 parts with a cape that was fastened under the collar by 3 buttons, one at back centre and one on each shoulder but again under the collar and you can see this in your picture where a marine (?) is being helped to get dressed. In your picture of men on board ship you can see some with the cape fitted and a few of the officers have a removable hood instead of the men's capes.

From the 1890s (I am sorry I do not have the exact date), the coat and cape were issued as separate items, as and when required. I enclose the only photos of overcoats that I have and they will at least serve to show the appearance, as the later khaki coat was essentially the same but in the new shade of cloth as opposed to the previous grey.

Notice in particular the deep turn back cuffs. These were because the coat was designed to act as a sleeping bag together with a blanket and could thus be turned down at night over the wearers hands in order to improve insulation.

In the pattern issued before WW1 reinforcement patches were added to the shoulders and a small pocket inserted in the waist (for a field dressing I seem to recall). These were not present in the earlier pattern, as shown in the uppermost photo.

[jf42]

Here is an illustration of the Royal Engineers greatcoat of 1866, NCOs and Sappers (from Army Equipments - Part III - Section I Engineers, 1866).
The text refers to this as 'of the new pattern'.

I meant to post this ages ago. For reference, here is a photograph of an infantry greatcoat from the 1860s as worn by a soldier of the 71st Regiment (Highland, Light Infantry) in 1865; from 1881, the 1st Bn HLI.

I include the piper and bandsman to keep him company.

71st HLI 1865.jpg (204.5 KiB) Viewed 227 times