BRITISH ARMY GREATCOATS XIX CENTURY

Gentlemen

I´m interested in the greatcoats used by officers and other ranks of the british army during the second half of the XIX century. As much detail as possible will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Pedro

Pedro,
I assume that you managed to download the Dress Regulations 1857, so this is from British Patten Book 1886.
Great-coats and Capes General Instructions.
Milled cloth, double breasted to reach within a foot of the ground.  Stand and fall collar, 4½ deep with a fly to cover the band of the cape when buttoned on.  Loose round cuffs, 6 inches deep. 2 pockets with flaps at the waist in front, 2 openings behind at the side seams with pointed flaps 11 inches long;  a pocket inside the left breast.  A slit in the left side for hilt of sword to pass through.  An opening behind, 19 inches long, with a fly, 2 rows of buttons down the front, 6 in each row , the top buttons 6 inches apart, the bottom ones 4 inches; 3 buttons on each skirt flap, the centre one to close the pocket; 4 small buttons at the opening behind; and 5 flat buttons under the fly at the collar.  A cloth back strap, attached to the top button of the skirt flap, to confine the coat at the waist;  2 hooks and eyes to the collar.  Shoulder straps on the coat of the same material as the garment; a small button of the pattern authorized for the respective services at the top.  Badges of rank in gold; in bronze for Rifle Regiments.  Cape of the same cloth as the coat, and long enough to cover the knuckles; 4 small buttons in front; to fasten at the neck with a leather strap, runner and buckle.  Four cloth tabs with button holes in the lining at the bottom , one on either side in front and two in the rear, so as to secure the cape to the bottom buttons of the coat in front and to the top buttons on the flap behind.
In the case of Mounted Officers for whom the above pattern of coat is authorized, the following alterations will be made: The opening of the coat behind will be long enough to reach to the cantle of the saddle, and a gusset will be introduced commencing at the top of the slit and extending downwards to about 24 inches with about 19 inches width at the bottom.  A tab with button hole at the bottom of the gusset to close it when the coat is worn on foot.  A small pocket with a flap at the back of the left sleeve.  On the inside of each skirt a cloth band with button to secure the skirts over the knees when the coat is worn on mounted duties.  The four buttons at the opening behind are omitted.  The coat to reach to the ankles when worn on foot.

Hope it's of some use to you..
WF

From The Life Guards - Almark publications
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Wfrad,

Thanks a lot for your quick answer.

The greatcoat you mentioned is that of the Officers. I guess that that of other ranks is single breast with a row of five buttons.

Nevertheless, do you know if before 1886 the greatcoat was that used during napoleonic wars? I mean, that of nco´s single breast, stand up collar and with collar and cuffs with colour facings.

Thanks again

Pedro