Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Dart and Erme Yeomanry Cavalry Officer’s Coatee 1823-1828.

A most rare and probably unique example to this small and short lived Devon corps. Single breasted in navy blue fine quality woollen cloth with similar quality light blue woollen cloth facings, button-on plastron, bottom edging and skirt panels. The reverse of the sleeves and the back are also piped in the same colour. Gold bullion wire ‘waterfall’ at the rear with a two clip provision for the sword belt. Sewn hole provision for two epaulettes. All twenty-six fine quality gilt buttons are present, convex, open back, unmarked (18mm). The raised design displays the crown over Roman capitals ‘D & E’ over ‘Y.C’. The garment is well padded and lined with a lightly waxed white linen. The coatee is unnamed, the garment is ‘peppered’ with moth damage with two more serious damaged areas on the shoulders. Thorough treatment to prevent further infestation has been carried out and the coatee is well worthy of further conservation £1,200-£1,600

This Corps was formed from the ashes of the Devon Guides 1803-1820. The War Office List of 20th September 1825, ‘Officers of the Militia, Yeomanry Cavalry & Volunteer Infantry’, indicate that two troops existed, seven officers in total are shown. The commanding officer in the latter years of the Guides and for the whole of the Dart and Erme’s existence was Arthur Howe Holdsworth (1780-1860) a local man of great wealth and importance in the area. His family held the right to the ‘Waters of the Dart’ (1725-1860) enabling them to levy tolls on all goods landed between Salcombe and Torbay. He was the last Governor of Dartmouth and Governor of Dartmouth Castle, and was Member of Parliament for Dartmouth from 1802 to 1819 and again from 1829 to 1832. Family seats were Widdicombe House and Mount Galpin.