Buttons of the Artillery.

[Farkas]

Hello Gents,

first I must give credit to this post which I found incredibly helpful identifying the following selection of buttons…
 

 

I was lucky enough to get a great group of various Artillery buttons recently.

I’d like to share some pictures of them.

 

First, the Royal Artillery ones.

I’m using the dates that the design was in use, I haven’t yet narrowed down the date of individual buttons using the makers marks on the backs.

 

Between 1790 - 1802 the design was still that I’m more familiar with nowadays as that of the ordnance corps.

The first 2 and the last small dark one are curved, they are Officer buttons. The remaining 4 are flat and therefore those worn by other ranks.

Between 1802 - 1831 the design below was adopted, I’m missing this one…

Between 1831 - 1840 the design returned to that of the 3 cannon, this time without the shield and the Crown was added. This design was to return in 1855.

Between 1840 - 1855 the addition of a scroll bearing ‘Ubique’ under the cannons made a brief appearance.

 

Between 1855 - 1872 was the last time the design featuring the 3 cannons was used. The Royal Artillery returned to the simpler 1831-40 design though varieties in colour/finish existed now such as a silvered finish (Officer only) and white metal for volunteers.

Examples of all 3 types together below.

 

and smaller ones below

 

1871 saw massive changes to British army buttons and uniform. The dropping of the numbered regiment of foot system, amalgamations & naming of regiments and the use by other ranks of the general service button.

 

From 1872 - Present, The Royal Artillery has used the same single cannon design.

The crown changed in 1902 and again in 1952 with the change of the Monarch.

I’m not to sure which are silvered and which just white metal but… Amongst the above there is one even I can spot. It’s solid, feels heavy and looks great.

The Firmin makers mark on the back dates it to 1884…

 

 

That’s the Royal Artillery examples done, there are some other types of Artillery in the group, including a few commonwealth and some others. I’ll add those shortly.

 

I hope this kept your interest, I’m glad you got this far 😊

 

So to those that did… 🍻

tony

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Farkas
Edit

[TracA]

Farkas,

 

What a great post. Thank you for sharing. It's fascinating to see the design development, especially when ever so subtle.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

[Farkas]

On 10/12/2023 at 20:14, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

What a great post. Thank you for sharing. It's fascinating to see the design development, especially when ever so subtle.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Thanks Tracy 🍻

 

—-/::/::;

 

Below are the examples of other Artillery units…

 

 

These 2 are my favourite👇
I believe these MVA (not 100% sure) are Middlesex Volunteer Artillery

Then we have…

 

Royal Marine Artillery.

New Zealand Forces Artillery.

Some later with a Kings crown.

N.Z.

& Canada

 

South Africa.

 

and last but not least…

a little Kent Artillery Volunteers.

 

Hope you like ‘em

 

cheers 🍻

tony

[TracA]

Farkas,

 

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing. I really love the attention to detail on the design of these buttons. What a fascinating area of collecting.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

[Farkas]

1 hour ago, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing. I really love the attention to detail on the design of these buttons. What a fascinating area of collecting.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Thanks Tracy,

I was lucky but there was a bit of good karma involved too…

 

I spotted a button listed in n EBay as ‘unknown’ and managed to work out what it was, I messaged the seller and told him what it was.

It turned out the seller was a lovely fella called Bob, in his seventies, he told me he was selling off his 50 year collection to fund another hobby and apart from a few he would be listing the military ones in joblots shortly. 

I kid you not, I scrambled to get funds ready… and bought every one!

That was 6 x joblots of 68!!

 

i pissed a few people off apparently but I wasn’t sharing unless I had too!

 

Apart from knowing they were going to be listed, another advantage I had was, it is usual with large joblots, if someone only wants/needs a few items in it, it is unlikely they’ll spend as much as someone who wants many or all of them.., my advantage was I wanted at least 50 or even 60 out of each lot of 68.

 

I’ve got a lot of buttons but I don’t spend much on specific ones unless I want them for a uniform that is missing them. I also love a bargain. However mine are 99% post ww1. Because the best are Victorian,  there are so many that are scarce it was a non starter   🤷‍♂️ or so I thought 😊

 

1 hour ago, TracA said:

I really love the attention to detail on the design of these buttons.

They truly are 👍👍

I wasn’t intending to but I can’t resist showing you them all 😊

These were the first

then these

 

then the artillery lot 

 

then these 👇 

these got a lot of interest.

 

Next up these 👇

 

and lastly these 👇

Even better in the flesh and I’ve not even opened them all up yet.

 

Truly an honour to pick up Bobs collection. Also a pleasure to tell him they’re staying together with me not being broken up and sold. 

 

Lastly, over the time I chatted with Bob he mentioned his Father was Royal Navy in both wars but sadly he and his family knew nothing of his service… not even one ship he served on.

So the cherry on the bun was that I was able to find a load of records for him including these 👇

 

So all because I messaged him about his unknown button, a series of events unfolded that brought some joy to all involved…

That’s good karma in action.

 

cheers

tony 🍻

[TracA]

Farkas,

 

Wow, what a great story and a great way for it to turn out. Being able to dig up records about the seller's father is wonderful icing on the cake.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

[Farkas]

On 14/12/2023 at 17:48, TracA said:

Farkas,

 

Wow, what a great story and a great way for it to turn out. Being able to dig up records about the seller's father is wonderful icing on the cake.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

Exactly 🍻