Arm badge

Arm badge (brassard) won at the Eastern Thames Regatta 1902, attached to sleeve of prize coat.

Shaped silver badge with a scroll edge, decorated with crossed union flag and royal standard in coloured enamels either side of the crowned profile of King Edward VII. Above are crossed oars, and below in a scroll is inscribed 'EASTERN THAMES REGATTA 1902' and within a cartouche: 'WON BY M.J. MEARS 1ST SEPTR.'

It is attached to a red-lined purple cloth backing, on the back of which are two hooks and tie-on tapes to attach it to the sleeve of the coat.
It was acquired together with the coat (UNI0849) and a gold waterman's medal won by M. J. Mears at the same regatta (MEC1195). On this occasion the coat and badge were given instead of a money prize to mark the Coronation of Edward VII.

M. J. Mears of Catford (b.1875), who worked on the Thames for 61 years as a waterman and lighterman and tugmaster, donated the coat and medal to the NMM in 1955.