This uniform belonged to Staff Commander Walter W. Browne and dates from 1867.

The coat has a standing collar of leather faced with white wool and edges with gold lace, lined with black silk twill. The sleeves are gathered to the front of the shoulder. There are heavy brass clips and eyes on each shoulder to secure epaulettes. The sleeve features a mariners cuff with a three point slash. The slash is faced with white wool, edged with gold lace and has three small gilt brass buttons. There are three rows of distinction lace around each sleeve, the top row features the curl. There is a crape mourning band on the left sleeve.

The coat is fully lined with cream silk twill and is also padded and quilted on the shoulders, chest, and under the arms. The silk on the chest and under the arms is embossed with a geometric pattern. The sleeves are lined with white cotton twill, with the exception of the cuff which is lined with black sateen.

The back of the coat features hip buttons with a three point pocket flap on either side. The flap is edged with padded gold lace and lined with blue wool. There are two further buttons in the pleats in the tails, one at mid-point, the other at the base of the tail.

In 1864 two new ranks were introduced, that a Staff Captain which replaced the rank of Master of the Fleet, and that of Staff Commander which replaced that of a Master of 15 years seniority. However, the rank of master was still retained. The uniform for these new ranks featured light blue velvet worn between the bands of distinction lace on the sleeves.

In 1867, regulations were changed and the velvet was dispensed with; the rank was differentiated by the arrangement of buttons on the breast of the coat – nine buttons grouped by threes.