Embroidered Navy Coat

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Name/Title

Description

A US Navy peacoat with the name 'Robert K. Lamb' embroidered inside with Chinese characters and colorful dragon design. The plastic navy blue buttons have an anchor design.

Use

Peacoats were issued to US Navy personnel as a part of their uniform.

Context

A form of unauthorized personalization, liberty embroidery was applied to the inside of military uniforms, such as the cuffs or neckline. Popular in the United States Asiatic Fleet, embroidery only be seen when the cuffs were rolled up after the sailors left the ship for “liberty” or shore leave. Popular designs included depictions of dragons, mermaids, dolphins for submariners, and birds for aircraft crewmembers. Radarman 3/c Robert Lamb likely had his peacoat embroidered while on liberty during his service post-World War II aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823).

Collection

Naval Uniforms

Acquisition

Accession

2015.52

Source or Donor

Anonymous

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1947 - circa 1950

Label/Inscription/Signature

Type

Embroidery

Location

Inside coat, at nape

Transcription

Robert K. Lamb

Language

English

Material/Technique

Thread

Update Date

March 13, 2025