Anna Lind

Both Burberry and Aquascutum claimed to have invented the trench coat wit Aquascutum's claim dating back to the 1850's.

Thomas Burberry invented gabardine fabric in 1879 and sent in a design for an Army officer's raincoat to the United Kingdom War Offcie in 1901.

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The trenchoat became an potional tiem of dres in the British Army, and was obtained y private purchase by officers and Warrant Officers Class I who were under no obligation to own them.

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During WW1 the design of the trench coat was modified to include shoulder straps and D-rings. The shoulder stras were for attachment of epaulettes or other rank insignia. There is a popular myth that the D-ring was attached to the coat for hand grenades but it was originally for attaching map cases and swords or other equipment to the belt.This latter pattern was dubbed "trench coat" by the soldiers in ther front line. Many trench coat's had large pockets for maps and cleverly placed flaps and vents to deal with the odour associated with earlier rubber coats.