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Cuthbertson, in his System for the Complete Interior Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of Infantry – Page 69 - specifies the functionality of such a tab for the common soldier.
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We have interpreted this cloth loop as a tab, made from a remnant of the facing material. We sewed it at the end all the way from the inside of the coat to the outside (not just the lining which would pull) and added a button on the inside of the opposite site.
It does a splendid job of releasing the tension on the hooks and eyes and reduces unsightly gaping.
Soldier's Coat Lapel Tab
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One of the delights of recreating a uniform is discovering problems that the soldiers themselves had. We found that the front of our coat (lapels) did not sit together, but pulled apart despite the hooks and eyes. We are aiming for parade smart so we sought a solution. There are no extant privates' coats for the British Army at this time to study, so we looked at other sources, starting at the top of the army to set the example. In this picture of General Henry Clinton, we can see the coat held together with a scarlet tab. It would appear that he has removed his hooks and eyes in order to display his 18th century frills with great elegance.
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