Arm badge

Arm badge (brassard) won at the Eastern Thames Regatta 1902, attached to sleeve of prize coat.

Shaped silver badge with a scroll edge, decorated with crossed union flag and royal standard in coloured enamels either side of the crowned profile of King Edward VII. Above are crossed oars, and below in a scroll is inscribed 'EASTERN THAMES REGATTA 1902' and within a cartouche: 'WON BY M.J. MEARS 1ST SEPTR.'

It is attached to a red-lined purple cloth backing, on the back of which are two hooks and tie-on tapes to attach it to the sleeve of the coat.
It was acquired together with the coat (UNI0849) and a gold waterman's medal won by M. J. Mears at the same regatta (MEC1195). On this occasion the coat and badge were given instead of a money prize to mark the Coronation of Edward VII.

M. J. Mears of Catford (b.1875), who worked on the Thames for 61 years as a waterman and lighterman and tugmaster, donated the coat and medal to the NMM in 1955.

Object Details

ID: PLT0231
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Arm badge
Display location: Not on display
Creator: D.G.C.
Events: Doggett's Race
Date made: 1902; 1902-03 1902-1903
People: VII, King Edward; Mears, M. J. VII, King Edward
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: overall: 220 x 170 mm; badge only: 170 x 125 x 30 mm