Double-breasted frock coat of blue wool with a small standing collar with star insignia on either side. On the left shoulder is a red cord shoulder strap and on the left breast are medal ribbons for the Crimea, Turkish Crimea and the order of Medjidie. The coat fastens with two rows of seven domed gilt brass buttons with Royal Marines’ insignia. The sleeves are a paired down version of the gigot, or ‘leg of mutton’ sleeve, seen in women’s dress throughout the 1830s. The sleeve terminates in a non-working mariners’ cuff with blue slash and three domed gilt brass buttons. Like the tunic (UNI0368), the skirts feature a stylised version of the slash of the mariner’s cuff with three gilt brass buttons. While adapted to uniform, the style of the coat reflects popular men’s fashions in the mid-19th century.

This coat belonged to Edward Fitzgerald Pritchard, who was made a 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1848. He became a 1st lieutenant in 1852, and a captain in 1859. He drowned in 1864 while serving on HMS ‘Orlando’.