The Early Military Button project

[Donnydave]

I think all of my military buttons are too modern for this project

Armthorpe button.jpg (46.69 KiB) Viewed 11148 times

volunteer sub marine miners.jpg (93.36 KiB) Viewed 11149 times

[blue_yeti]

Hi Donny

The silver one looks very interesting. The style is from 1790-1820 which is to early for the only reference books on these units as its certainly a Cavalry button, and my guess is West Yorks, what do the letters say underneath? It looks like an S and Y but I cannot quite see them?

I will get it sent away for either recording or positive ID

Thanks for them

BY

[Donnydave]

Hi Donny

The silver one looks very interesting. The style is from 1790-1820 which is to early for the only reference books on these units as its certainly a Cavalry button, and my guess is West Yorks, what do the letters say underneath? It looks like an S and Y but I cannot quite see them?

I will get it sent away for either recording or positive ID

Thanks for them

BY

SW YY around a G

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[blue_yeti]

Hi DD,

Got a quick reply on yours today must have timed my email just right, and as expected its quite a rare although not unrecorded.

The first button is to West York Cavalry (South Yorkshire). The 1803 raisings saw the West Riding of Yorkshire raise no less than 4 BIG corps of yeomanry cavalry. The Craven Legion (infantry as well), the West Yorkshire (North) West Yorkshire (South) and the West Yorkshire (West). The 'South' continued on using roughly the same title until the 1840's. This button though is the South's first pattern and sadly there is not one in the collection here yet as it only rarely shows up

The second button is to the Sub Marine Miners, Royal Engineers appear en masse c1890. These are units involved in the construction of maritime facilities such as docks and berths. They are listed in 'Divisions', Falmouth, Harwich, Humber, Medway, Milford Haven, The Needles, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Thames and Western. The majority used the very button you illustrate but the Humber certainly had their own titles button. Some smaller units of the pre Division era also had their own Tyneside was one.

So two really interesting items from completely and utterly different units!!

Hope thats all of interest

BY

[Old Git John]

My selection, improved pics BY.

[liz]

Some of mine, all found in Rutland unless marked.

[blue_yeti]

Hi Liz

Thanks for those some interesting bits there. Im sure some you already know but for the record

Top Row

Numbers 1&2 I am sure this is the Rutland Volunteers, a Rifle Volunteer unit but for the life of me I cannot currently find it so will come back to this one!!

3. A number of Light Inf units used this button such as the Rifle Brigade, The Green Jackets,

Middle Row

1. & 2. Are standard General Service buttons dating from 1901-52. The makers can help ID which date but the odds go for WW1 period.
3. Is the Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry- This is the first of two patterns that I can see for this unit which was raised in 1828 as the Lancashire Yeomanry Cavalry. Sometime after 1834 they took on the name Duke of Lancasters Own so this button must post date this. The back or maker may give away more details as to the exact age of this button but I reckon late Victorian is about right probably before they left for the Boer War as part of the Imperial Yeomanry.

Bottom Row

1. Is to the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, (Prince Alberts Own) Originally raised in 1794 they were retained in 1827 following the mass disbandments and in 1844 took this name. Interestingly this button appears to sit right in the middle between the 2nd and 3rd of five patterns they wore. The second shows the garter being oval with the letters in old English in the middle being LYC and the third the garter is round but with the later LIY in the middle. Yours appears to have the round garter but with the earlier letters. With the earlier letters its has to pr date 1900, so 1844-1900 for this one.
2. Is a Royal Artillery button of the post 1855 design but with Kings Crown meaning it must date to the two world wars and date between 1901-52
3. This is a button to the 76th Hindoostan Peninsula dating 1800 to around 1850 I believe. Interestingly this is the same title due to their long and good service there that was given to the Leicestershire Regt, along with the Royal Tiger emblem that also gives its name to the Leicester Tigers rugby team, so perhaps brought back by someone or indeed that the Indian unit 'came and visited' perhaps on their way to Canada in 1812.

Hope that covers the majority!

BY

[liz]

That is great BY, many thanks. I know very little about military and these buttons so it is good to be able to give the button and info to the farmer. The last one is interesting, once again many thanks for taking the time to id these for me.

Assume this is the LIY button you mention.

[Old Git John]

Hi Steve, here is the one I left out the other day, the St.Ives Artillery button.

[blue_yeti]

Liz,

Yes that is the fourth pattern they wore and follows their name change to Imperial that took place when this was formed as the umbrella organisation for all the Yeomanry's in 1900. It was the name they went to war under in South Africa during the Boer War. The 'Imperial' was abandoned in 1908 so this button is short lived and dates from 1900-08

OGJ as you rightly say this is indeed the St Ives Artillery, making up part of the coastal defences. This is a known type but the references I have here dont give much info. I believe it dates to circa 1790-1840 but will see if I can get that properly confirmed for you.

Cheers
BY

[Old Git John]

Many thanks for all of your efforts BY.

[blue_yeti]

Thanks John, sorry not more on yours yet!

Liz a bit more on some of yours has come through...

The 'RV' items are NOT believed to be from Rutland, despite the find location. The whole structure is much more like a Kent unit. I would suggest Ramsgate Vols (1794-1801), a separate corps from the Ramsgate Artillery Vols. (1797-1801). Neither unit so titled was re-raised in 1803.

Duke of Lancaster's Yeomanry dates more specifically from c1853-1901.

The o/r's pewter for the 76th, strictly is shown as c1816-1856 but more likely dates to c1830-1856.

Cheers
BY

[plodite]

Hi BY,here is my little collection.Not even sure they are all military but am sure you will let me know.
Hope you don't mind i added the 2 non button bits at the end.

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[plodite]

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[plodite]

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