Greatcoat identification please

[Andy D]

Hello

I have a Coldstream guards greatcoat and I'd like to know era and rank. I does have a name in it Captain L.N Gibbs but wonder if that is correct for the rank

12 buttons, doulble breated. Red lining, buttons by Firmin s & Sons Ld London (From what I can gather from that, early 20thC late 19th)

Turned up & stitched cuffs.

If anybody has information on L N Gibbs, that would be great also

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/t...44/P1000508.jpg

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/t.../P1000507-1.jpg

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/t.../P1000511-1.jpg

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/t...44/P1000514.jpg

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/t...44/P1000513.jpg

Any help appreciated as my search has so far been fruitless. Are these rare?

Cheers

Andy

[Graham Stewart]

Capt Gibbs should appear in the Army List and personally I would start with Lists from 1900 working both ways.

[Andy D]

I had a reply from the people who should know, the Coldstream Guards Regimental museum. Interesting link with the name!

"Further to your email to The Guards Museum regarding your greatcoat

These Athol grey greatcoats are worn on ceremonial occasions, in the winter months.

I have been able to find out the following on L N Gibbs He was a Lieutenant in 1913 and was promoted to captain in 1915

He also won the MC, what for I do not know.

Regards

Gary GibbsAssistant Curator The Guards Museum"

[Mervyn Mitton]

Hi - Andy and welcome to the Forum. As you say interesting link with the name and Regiment. Perhaps the same family - but then you would expect him to know about the MC ?

[Graham Stewart]

Award for the M.C. appears in the Supplement of the London Gazette for the 1st January 1917, but for what is not recorded. Now if I remember correctly all Guards Service records remain in the custody of the Guards and not at the National Archive, (unless of course Guards Officers records were placed there). Often in such records can be found the citation for the award.

[Andy D]

Award for the M.C. appears in the Supplement of the London Gazette for the 1st January 1917, but for what is not recorded. Now if I remember correctly all Guards Service records remain in the custody of the Guards and not at the National Archive, (unless of course Guards Officers records were placed there). Often in such records can be found the citation for the award.

Thanks for the information so far. This is all rather out of my field, as I usually collect Indo-Persian arms & armour. Actually having something that has a definate name & history to it, is a new experience

Edited March 9, 2010 by Andy D

[Stuart Bates]

I looked up my Army Lists from 1914 to 1920 and found the following -

1. No L.N. Gibbs but Lancelot M. Gibbs commissioned as 2nd Lt Coldstream Guards 7 Dec 1910
2. Promoted Lt 19 Jul 1913
3. Promoted Capt. 17 Jul 1915
4. Does not appear in the 1920 List

From the London Gazette, he went from Captain to acting Major to Acting Lt Colonel and back to Capt. between 2nd Dec 1916 and 23rd May 1917.

Stuart

[Mervyn Mitton]

Andy - look back on Edged weapons. Posted a nice Indo-Persian dagger some time ago.

[Andy D]

Thanks Stuart

I tried to do a little bit of research myself, via some of the online lists and only found a John Evelyn Gibbs, who was also promoted to captain in 1914, ending up as Colonel in 1930. Seems a very familiar name to the Coldstream Guards.

"From the London Gazette, he went from Captain to acting Major to Acting Lt Colonel and back to Capt. between 2nd Dec 1916 and 23rd May 1917." That seems to be a very rapid rise & fall in rank?

As mentioned, my usual area is included in the attached photos of my own collection. Sorry Mervyn, couldnt see the post you mentioned.

[Andy D]

I've had another look at the labels in this coat, both stitched in. The one is typed and is certainly Captain L ? Gibbs Coldtream Guards. The other is wrien in ink & looks look like Colonel L M (or N) Gibbs, with no L N I think it must be LM; so it must be Lacelot Merival Gibbs. This is good as I found him in a peerage site.

Brigadier Lancelot Merivale Gibbs fought in the First World War.¹ He gained the rank of Brigadier in the service of the Coldstream Guards.¹ He fought in the Second World War.¹ He was decorated with the award of Military Cross (M.C.) (and bar).¹ He was decorated with the award of Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.).¹ He was invested as a Commander, Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.).¹

All well and good but any ideas on how I can get this coat cleaned. It could certainly be improved but I dont want to risk the labels fading any further. Would dry cleaning be ok if I was specifi on them protecting the labels in some way?

[Stuart Bates]

Andy,

there is a section in Collectors' Corner on the Preservation & Restoration of Military Artifacts. There may be something in there for you.

If not create a new thread. Failing that I would suggest contacting the National Army Museum and asking them. Or you may simply google "conservators" and find someone to help that way.

Unless there are specialist dry-cleaners I wouldn't go down that route. However, you now have a contact at the Guard's Museum so why not ask him for help?

Stuart

Edited March 11, 2010 by Stuart Bates