Unidentified button with skull and cross bones

[WRANGEL]

Good evening Gentlemen,

 

I need your help to identify this button which I believe to be military (not necessarly for the 17th Lancers ?). Maker : FIRMINS, STRAND. LONDON.

 

Cheers

 

Bill

[Farkas]

Hi Bill,

it may be a bit more interesting than expected... i agree at first glance it seems a straightforward 17th Lancers but I cannot find one like this.

 

The 17th Lancers and, post 1922 I believe, The 17/21 Lancers button was like your example but not the same. 👇

 

You will notice ☝️ the skull and crossbones meet, this was the case with every example I’ve seen while looking so far today...

 

Not yours 

 

It needs a little more investigation 😊

 

Cheers

tony 🍻

[Farkas]

 

Taken from www.jstor.org

 

’The 17th Light Dragoons had been serving in India from 1808 , where it remained for fourteen years, embarking for home on 9th January, 1823. During its stay in India the regiment had been converted into Lancers.1 Immediately on arriving in England the change from Light Dragoons to Lancers was carried out’

 

1823 was spent re-equipping the new lancers with officers first as they purchased their own uniforms.

 

The design on the back of the button dates to ”circa 1925” so in this case I’d say 1823.

 

I think the button you’ve posted was an early officers private commission based on 👇a regular design for them at the time. There’s no record of it I can find.

 

 

A nice button indeed…

 

cheers

tony 🍻

[WRANGEL]

Good evening Tony,

 

Many thanks to you for having taken of your time to do this research. Wonderfull sabretache on the photography and very close to the design of the button. Thanks again.

 

Cheers

 

Bill

[Farkas]

Hi Bill, 

just a little more...

This is the Officer pattern in 1900

 

 

tony 🍻