Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Waterloo Region Museum |
Object ID |
1964.028.001 |
Object Name |
Uniform, Military |
Description |
Uniform jacket/coat with sash: a) jacket is single breasted and below hip length. It is made from red wool with eight brass buttons down the front, a stiff standup collar, and long sleeves. The front is straight to the waist. The back has three panels with curved side back seams. There is a seam around the waist where a slightly flared skirt has been attached. The front seam has a small pocket in the right side. The back has white wool piping set into the bottom of the side back seams below the waist with two brass buttons at the join, and a brass hook on the back left waist. The collar is black wool trimmed with gold metallic braid with maple leaves, and edged with white wool piping. The same wool piping extends down the front opening. Across each shoulder is a tab made from gold cord wound into figures of eight and with four brass badges on each. On the neck end of the tab is a button that screws into a shank and has the royal coat of arms. The next two badges are four pointed stars with pointed edges enclosing a wreath of green leaves, a red circular band, and a brass circle with three crowns. The badge at the shoulder end is a crown. On each of brass buttons down the front is a wreath of maple leaves enclosing a band that has a crown at the top and around "CANADIAN MILITIA", and a circle with a beaver in the centre. The sleeves has an upper and an under sleeve. Each cuff is trimmed with black wool, with two strips of gold metallic braid with maple leaves to a point, and gold cord above and below, with an Austrian knot above. The jacket is lined with tan cotton above the waist and white wool below.The lining has been quilted front and around the armhole. A wide band of red leather has been sewn over the waist seam with two heavy brass hooks and eyes to close the front. There are an underarm shield in each armhole. There is a cloth label inside the back of the neck with "CREAN/ TORONTO". b) crimson sash is machine knitted and joined along the length to form a tube. It is stiffened with candle wick type material. There is a tassel on each end. The sash is worn across the left shoulder beneath the tab, and over the chest to below the waist on the right side. The sash is threaded through a crocheted crimson ring to hold the ends together. |
Date |
1890 |
Dimensions |
W-44 L-77.5 cm |
History |
James Laing Cowan (1847-1936) was a son of James Cowan (1803-1900) and Helen Laing (1811-1892) of North Dumfries Township. James was a member of the 29th Waterloo Battalion, becoming a lieutenant in 1882 and later a colonel. He was also president of Cowan and Company of Galt. The Waterloo County Militia was formed in the early 1850s. By 1866, it was known as the 29th Waterloo Battalion of Infantry, and was made up of six companies in the county, which were stationed at New Hamburg, Ayr, Galt, Berlin, Crosshill and Waterloo. It was relatively inactive, but mustered on several occasions, including 1866 when the New Hamburg, Galt and Waterloo units were called out to repulse the Fenians at the time of their border raids. Colonel Peck commanded the 29th Battalion from 1866 to 1881. There were between 250 and 300 persons under Colonel Peck's command. In 1905, the battalion's name was changed to the 29th Waterloo Regiment. |
Search Terms |
Waterloo County Militia 29th Waterloo Battalion of Infantry 29th Waterloo Regiment Crean |
People |
Cowan, James Laing |