France Corps des Ponts et Chaussees

[Bob Hoe]

Hi All,

I recently found a really badly crumpled button while metal detecting in Lincolnshire. I have managed to make out the inscription on the button as ' INGENIEUR DES PONTS ET CHAUSSEES' so, Engineer of Bridges and Roads. I think the centre of the button contains a crowned eagle facing right perched on a laurel, so Napoleonic?

Not sure if this is a military button but I've been trying to find an image of a complete example.

Can anyone oblige please?

Cheers

Rob

[TacHel]

From what I gather on French Wiki, it's a civilian corps of engineers...

Edited February 4, 2013 by TacHel

[Bob Hoe]

That's the one.Thanks very much.

[Veteran]

TacHel is quite right. "PONTS ET CHAUSSEES" have been since the early XIXth Century the part of the French Civil Service in charge of roads and bridges.

They are responsable for the planning, building and maintenance of all State owned roads and bridges and for the survey of all other roads, tunnel, bridges in local administration and private hands which are open to the public.

A tighly knit corps of engineers, carefully trained in high level schools, are in charge. A rather exclusive category of Civil Servants in fact.

This button, with the crowned empirial eagle, probably dates back to the 1852-1870 Second Empire (Napoleon III). All Civil Services had their distinctive uniforms in those days, with gilt buttons such as the one you have found.

Regards