This jacket appears to be part of the uniform of a junior officer of the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. Several companies of the regiment were stationed in Sydney and Hobart between 1845 and 1857. The jacket was acquired by Brighton Historical Society around 1971 as part of a collection of clothing belonging to the Ward Cole family of 'St Ninians', 10 Miller Street, Brighton. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and his family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time; the family lived at St Ninians from around 1841 until the early 1900s. It is not known who the jacket belonged to or how it came into the Ward Coles' possession. While George Ward Cole was a military man, his service was with the British Navy and during an earlier period than is indicated by this jacket (1807-1817).A red and green flocked cotton military jacket believed to be part of the uniform of the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot. The jacket features a green high stand collar secured at the throat by three brass hook and eye closures. The red jacket bodice secures down the centre front with fourteen brass buttons and finishes approximately at the navel. The bottom line sits on the waistline at the sides and back, tapering lower to the naval at the centre front. The bottom line features two substantial brass hooks one on either side of the waist to secure the jacket to the pants. The shoulder line of the jacket is a neat tight fit on the true shoulder, with a slim fitting curved sleeve with gathered fullness at the shoulder. On each shoulder is a metallic corded epaulet with North Devon XI button and second button with floral motif. At the base of the sleeve is a green cuff like detail with a curved elongated point towards the elbow. At the base of each sleeve is a further two brass regiment buttons. The cream woolen jacket lining is lightly quilted over the breast.st ninians, george ward cole, brighton, military, british army, devonshire regiment, north devonshire regiment of foot

George Eddy was born in Castlemaine (1860) and joined the Third Battalion of Militia at Ballarat in 1885. In 1890 he gained a position on the permanent staff of the Victorian Rangers and promoted to Major in 1897. Eddy went to England (1898-9) and was attached to the Devonshire Regiment. Major Eddy was killed at Rensburg, Province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 1900. He was Senior Officer of the First Contingent, commanding the Infantry Unit. Colonel Carter wrote..." ....I brought the gallant conduct of your husband and his command under the notice of the General .....He was a genial comrade and a gallant soldier, and he is, I fear, an irreparable loss to the Australian Contingent." ('Argus' April 1900)Digital portrait from "In Memory of the Gallant Officers and Men of Victoria in Transvaal War, 1899-1900".george eddy, castlemaine, third battalion of militia ballarat, victorian rangers, devonshire regiment, major, rensburg, south africa