Bosleys Military Auctioneers
Los 694
Leeds Volunteers Georgian Officer’s Coatee. circa 1820 A scarlet cloth coatee, with yellow collar, plastron and cuffs. The upright collar and fronts fastened with hooks and eyes. The collar edged all round with half-inch silver “check” lace. The plastron fully reversible, with scarlet underside, edged with narrow white piping, fastened on each side with 12 small silvered regimental buttons in groups of three, the button-holes forming twist loops across the front. Round cuffs edged with lace as on collar. 3-button scarlet slashes to cuffs and skirts. White skirt-lining and turn-backs, with a pair of white metal bugle-horn skirt ornaments on yellow backing. The buttons bear a rose within a crowned circlet inscribed Leeds Volunteers all on a star resembling the Thistle Star. The coat complete with its detachable wings, the straps of tapering white metal chain, edged with silver embroidery on scarlet cloth. Small bugle horns at the junction of the strap and wings. A double row of short silver bullions along the outer edge of the wings. The coatee with slight fading and some moth damage, mainly to the skirt-linings but GC for its age; the linings underneath the wings somewhat defective. Until 1816 a great mass of infantry volunteer corps in various guises existed (including in Leeds) but these had been promptly disbanded when Napoleon ceased to be a threat. However, in 1819-20 there was a very limited and now little known movement to form new infantry volunteer units. Only around 6 such corps seem to have been raised in England and these mostly disappeared within 5 or 6 years. Commissions in the Leeds Volunteers were issued from 17th July 1820. Several of the officers had served in the Leeds Local Militia up to 1816. The unit originally had 3 Bn. Coys. one Grenadier Coy. and one Light Infantry Coy. and received its Colours in July 1821. There is a lack of evidence of the corps continuing after 1825, by when it had become known as the Leeds Light Infantry. The uniform had several striking, advanced features, namely slash cuffs, closed collar, lace trimming and the plastron front.Vendor states associated with the Georgian waist sash Lot 427.
