A CIRCA 1830's BRITISH OFFICERS WATCH COAT/CLOAK.

A circa 1830's British Officers watch coat/cloak, blue cloth with integral smaller cloak section, velvet collar, red shalloon lining, 10 black horn buttons to the front with gilt Royal Engineers buttons bearing the Royal Cypher of King William IV to fasten the cloak, label to the interior with the stitched name 'Orlebar. Hinwick.',it is likely that the coat belonged to Lieutenant Alexander Charles Orlebar, born May 1814, 4th son of Richard Orlebar Esq. of Hinwick House in Bedfordshire, commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers on 5th October 1831, Lt. Orlebar drowned off Bermuda on February 10th 1834, Bermuda's History from 1800-1899 states, 'Three men were returning to St George's from the Dockyard, namely Lieut. Orlebar, Royal Engineers, Mr Scott of the Ordnance Department, and Mr Sands, Clerk of Works. Just as the party left the open sea at Murry's Anchorage and gained access to the waters of Ferry Reach, their boat was upended by a squall and only Mr Sands survived...', Lt. Orlebar's father served as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1808, his brother John was a Commander in the Royal Navy in 1845, a rare item.