My Ancestors' Military Buttons - Various Regiments, Some To Be ID'd Please!

[rusticalex]

Hello All

I've been having a sort through some more of my family's military stuff (for want of a better word!), and in doing so put all the buttons out on a table, amazing myself with just how many there are, and how many different ones there are too! They obviously prized these buttons as in some cases we have 20 or so of the same one! Anyway, rather than locking them back away for another hundred years, I thought I'd share them on here, and hopefully can get some help with IDing and dating the ones I'm not sure about as I'm keen to try and link them to people.

Many thanks

Alex

#1 – ID help please and age. Maker is Jennings & Co, London.

then

#2 – ID help please and age. Maker is Smith & Wright, Birmingham.

[rusticalex]

#3 - Royal Dublin Fusiliers – possibly worn by my Great Grandfather, who was in the Royal Madras Fusiliers, although he retired in 1875 before the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were formed.

then

#4 – The Royal Welsh Fusiliers – worn by my late Cousin’s father – see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/40891-captain-dudley-davies-lambert/

[rusticalex]

#5 – ID help please. Maker is Jennings & Co, London. Maybe it is just a general military button?

then...

#6 – The 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment – my Cousin’s grandfather’s button – see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/40988-captain-robert-graeme-born-04-12-1839-dcd-14-05-1910/

[rusticalex]

#7 – Same regiment as in #6, but a smaller, older looking button with a different design.

and...

#8 – The Royal Regt – belonged to Captain Edward Sharp – see http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/41432-capt-sharps-crimea-medals-x-2-plus-one-i-dont-know/page__hl__sharp__fromsearch__1

[rusticalex]

#9 – The Kings Own Light Infantry – belonged to another cousin, who served in the campaign on the North-West frontier of India (Ambela) in 1863, the Jowaki-Afridi expedition in 1877, and the Afghan War in 1878-9.

and

#10 – ID help please. Possibly Civil Defence, but when from?

[rusticalex]

#11 – Scottish Horse 1900 – this belonged to my great uncle who took part in the Boer War and was gazetted as Adjutant to the Scottish Horse in 1903.

and

#12 – Bengal Fusiliers – I’m a bit confused by this little one. Possibly it belonged to my Great Grandfather (see photo #3)

[rusticalex]

#13 – I’m not sure about this small button at all, except that I guess it is a Gurkha button? Any ideas?

and finally

#14 – Seaforth Highlanders – again, my great uncle’s button, who was killed in WW1 (see my Avatar!)

[Graham Stewart]

Hello All

I've been having a sort through some more of my family's military stuff (for want of a better word!), and in doing so put all the buttons out on a table, amazing myself with just how many there are, and how many different ones there are too! They obviously prized these buttons as in some cases we have 20 or so of the same one! Anyway, rather than locking them back away for another hundred years, I thought I'd share them on here, and hopefully can get some help with IDing and dating the ones I'm not sure about as I'm keen to try and link them to people.

Many thanks

Alex

#1 ID help please and age. Maker is Jennings & Co, London.

then

#2 ID help please and age. Maker is Smith & Wright, Birmingham.

Top one - Victorian Royal Navy - the gilt finnish would indicate an officer's

Bottom one - Victorian General Service - worn by other ranks

[Graham Stewart]

#9 The Kings Own Light Infantry belonged to another cousin, who served in the campaign on the North-West frontier of India (Ambela) in 1863, the Jowaki-Afridi expedition in 1877, and the Afghan War in 1878-9.

and

#10 ID help please. Possibly Civil Defence, but when from?

Bottom one identified correctly as "Civil Defence" - certainly post WWII up until 1953 as it's a Kings Crown. The CD continued well into the 1960's, but I'm unsure when it was stood-down.

[Graham Stewart]

#11 Scottish Horse 1900 this belonged to my great uncle who took part in the Boer War and was gazetted as Adjutant to the Scottish Horse in 1903.

and

#12 Bengal Fusiliers I'm a bit confused by this little one. Possibly it belonged to my Great Grandfather (see photo #3)

104th Bengal Fusiliers, became the 2nd Bn, Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1881.

[Graham Stewart]

#5 ID help please. Maker is Jennings & Co, London. Maybe it is just a general military button?

then...

#6 The 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment my Cousin's grandfather's button see http://gmic.co.uk/in...dcd-14-05-1910/

Top one - Victorian as worn by Brigadiers and Colonels.

[rusticalex]

Top one - Victorian Royal Navy - the gilt finnish would indicate an officer's

Bottom one - Victorian General Service - worn by other ranks

Thank you Graham. That helps - this button probably belonged to my great, great, great uncle who was in the navy in the early to mid 1800s - nice one!

104th Bengal Fusiliers, became the 2nd Bn, Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1881.

Still puzzled by this, but then some mysteries aren't meant to be solved! Thanks for you help Graham.

[Mervyn Mitton]

No. 8 - formed in 1824 as the 8th. Ghurka Regt. Became part of Indian Forces in 1947.

I think Graham has answered most of the others. You certainly inherited a wonderful treasure trove - officer's buttons with the number - rather then the Regt. - have become quite valuable. Any more trunks to go ? What about family portraits of them ? Mervyn

[rusticalex]

No. 8 - formed in 1824 as the 8th. Ghurka Regt. Became part of Indian Forces in 1947.

I think Graham has answered most of the others. You certainly inherited a wonderful treasure trove - officer's buttons with the number - rather then the Regt. - have become quite valuable. Any more trunks to go ? What about family portraits of them ? Mervyn

The Gurkha button is a mystery and will remain that way, I'm sure.

As for more trunks...haha! I've done an awful lot of that in the last year - ie sorting through boxes and suitcases creating an archive so that each family member has an archival number, and then I have put any photos/documents/letters/etc into individual acid free boxes for me to then go through for the rest of my life getting things into better order still! Eventually I want to create an online museum, but whilst I have started it, I am nowhere near finishing it! The militaria (ie buttons, medals, badges) is still being sorted through, and I want to store it in a more preservation friendly way than it has been.

Are you saying you'd like to see pictures of the characters I refer to in this post Mervyn? Happy to do so, but not quite sure if that is what you're asking!

Alex

[Mervyn Mitton]

No - Alex. I was thinking for all of the members of the family who you have featured. They covered a wide range of Units and of Campaigns.

One thought that does occur - what about our new Blog that Nick has set-up ? You would have a permanent record for future research and comments ? Mervyn

[rusticalex]

I like the idea of the blog, but I just won't be able to fit it in - I'm already struggling! Once I've got more stuff together I will do some more of the individual profiles in the "The Recipients Story" section that Nick set up at my suggestion. That works for me, and hopefully works for those that read it!

Cheers

Alex