Unrecorded one piece military button

1st Essex Local Militia

The 1st Essex Local Militia were formed in 1809​​​, this is the first of two known types to this unit

Description: ​​​Crown over LM with 2 below

Category:​​English Infantry Militia​ ​

Type of button: Flat ​; ​

Metal: Copper Alloy silvered. Backmark:​;

Date: ​c1793-1803

'3rd Essex Local Militia gilt (b/m: Charles Jennens. London).

This is the 3rd Reg't of the Essex Local Militia.
Formed march 15th 1809, Disbanded 1816, for the Napoleonic Wars.
Based at Colchester, Lt. Col.Com. John Bawtree.

Tim'

2nd Queen's Dragoon Guards was founded in 1746, from The Princess of Wales's Own Regiment of Horse; redesignated 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) (1872); redesignated The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) (1921); amalgamated to form 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (1959).

THE 5TH. (PRINCESS OF WALES'S) DRAGOON GUARDS

First cuff button we have ever found

Description: ​​​Crowned Hannover Horse over V D.G with VESTIGIA NULLA RETRORSUM around. Category:​​ Dragoons​ ​

Type of button: Slightly Convex​​; ​

Metal: Copper Alloy, silver gilded. Backmark: ​​;

Date: ​c1780-1796.​​​

British 5th Regiment of Foot, fought at Lexington-Concord and Bunker Hill.

http://www.fifthfoot.org/

Pre 1940

Officer - 1861-1866

1855- 1930 Princess Royal 7th Dragoon guards button

The 7th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first formed in 1690. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the The Queen's Own Hussars in 1958.

The regiment was first raised as The Queen's Own Regiment of Dragoons in 1690, by the regimenting of various independent troops, ranked as the 7th Dragoons and named for Queen Mary. The regiment was briefly disbanded in 1714, with its squadrons joining the 1st and 2nd Dragoons, but reformed the following year as The Princess of Wales's Own Regiment of Dragoons, named for Princess Caroline. The regiment was retitled on Caroline's coronation as Queen Consort, becoming the The Queen's Own Regiment of Dragoons in 1727, and formally titled as the 7th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of Dragoons in 1751.

The regiment was designated light dragoons in 1783, becoming the 7th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, and as hussars in 1807 as the 7th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, with the title simplified in 1861 as the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars. After service in the First World War, the regiment retitled as 7th Queen's Own Hussars in 1921.

The regiment was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper, and was amalgamated with the 3rd The King's Own Hussars, to form the The Queen's Own Hussars the following year.

11th Light Dragoons

Although the Light Troop had been disbanded some years before, each troop of the regiment had elements of light cavalry for recconaisance work. But in 1783 the whole regiment changed from heavy to light cavalry. For the first year, the 11th Light Dragoons, as they were now called, wore their red coats cut short but in 1784 they were issued with the distinctive dark blue uniform that was to set them apart from the rest of the British Army

The 11th became LD in 1783 and became Hussars in 1840, this style of button dates to the early part of this date range .

13th Light Dragoons

Light dragoons have always been rather special troops. They were first raised in the middle of the Eighteenth Century for reconnaissance and patrolling - in other words scouting - but soon acquired a reputation for courage and dash in the charge. Originally, each regiment of cavalry formed a light troop, but so successful was the idea that whole regiments were formed. The 15th Light Dragoons were the first ever (1759), and others quickly followed including the Eighteenth and Nineteenth. The Thirteenth, raised as heavy dragoons (mounted infantrymen) as early as 1715, were also converted to the light role.

These light dragoon regiments fought all over the world in the half-century that followed, notably in India and North America. They distinguished themselves under the Duke of Wellington in Spain and Portugal in the Napoleonic wars, and three of them were present at the battle of Waterloo (1815).

In the Crimean War (1854-56), the 13th Light Dragoons were in the forefront of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalized by Tennyson's poem of that name ("Into the valley of death rode the six hundred").
The regiments adopted the title hussars at this time, and the uniform became very stylish, aping the hussars of the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon the blues and yellows and golds gave way to khaki as the British army found itself in skirmishes throughout the far-flung Empire, in India and South Africa especially.

18thC Pewter button

19thC -

XIV

The 14th was the Bedfordshire Regt of Foot until 1809 when it changed to the Buckinghamshire. This design style remained in use until 1838.

Description: ​​​K over LD with 15 below on eight pointed star​

Category:​​Light Dragoons​​

Type of button: Slightly convex​​; ​

Metal: Copper Alloy, silver plated. Backmark: None;

Date: ​c1769-1807.​​​

THE 16TH. (THE QUEEN'S) LANCERS (1812 - 1922)

The 2nd Light Horse was a British cavalry regiment raised in 1759. They first saw action at the siege of Belle Isle in 1761 and later fought in the American war of Independence. They were later renamed the 16th Lancers and earned the nickname 'Scarlet Lancers' because they were the only lancers to wear a scarlet tunic. They are the only British cavalry regiment to break an infantry square, which they did at Aliwal in the Punjab in January 1846.

Description: Crowned 17 within laureal wreath.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 23mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy silvered; Backmark​: S. FIRMIN STRAND;

​Date: c1800 ​

17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot button

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Leicestershire_Regiment

Unknown

21st Regt of Foot

Description: Crowned 21 with thistle spray below.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Slightly convex 25mm ​;

Metal: Pewter; Backmark​: None;

​Date: c1800-1830 ​

The second style known to the 22nd (Cheshire) Regt of Foot.

Description: 22 within contnued wreath of laurel design.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 22mm ​;

Metal: Copper Allot gilt; Backmark​: McGOWAN KING STREET SOHO LONDON;

​Date: c1800-1810 ​

30th South. Mayo Reg't (Militia) 

Regular Militia ( Ireland )

Officer - (Gilt) - 1829-1836

THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S LIGHT INFANTRY

(32nd & 46th Foot)

The 32nd Regt of Foot gained the Cornwall title in 1782. This style had a long period of use by the Regt lasting until 1871 for other ranks and 1881 for officers.

Waterford Militia

Between 1793 and 1815 the 33rd Light Infantry Regiment assembled in Waterford for a month’s training each year with the reservists being paid over this period. The concept was simple if there was a landing by a foreign force these men could be called upon to defend the country. Following the defeat of France in the Napoleonic wars this threat diminished and the militia was disbanded. 

Description: 34 within traditional wreath design.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Convex 21mm​;

Metal: Copper Alloy, gilt; Backmark​:FIRMIN & SONS 153 STRAND LONDON;

​Date: c1830-1840 ​

34th Regiment of foot

The 34th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1702 and amalgamated with the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot, into The Border Regiment on 1 July 1881.

Description: 40 within laurel wreath.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Convex 20mm​;

Metal: Copper Alloy Gilt; Backmark​: T SHAW LONDON;

​Date: c1820-c1830 ​

The 41st Regt of Foot were the 41st Regt of Invalids from 1751-1787, the 41st Regt of Foot 1787-1831,then became the Welch Regt of Infantry from 1831-38, the 41st Welch Regt 1838-52, The Welch 1852-62 and the 41st Welsh Regt of Foot 1862-81 .

42nd Regiment of foot

Raised in 1739 and originally numbered the 43rd Regiment, the 42nd Foot is the most senior of the Highland Regiments

Description: 43 within laurel wreath.  ​

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Slightly convex 19mm ​;

Metal: Pewter; Backmark​: HERBERT LONDON ;

​Date: c1820-c1856 ​

Description: 43 engraved within roped rim.  ​

Category:​​​ Regular Army; ​

Type of button: Flat ​; ​

Metal: Pewter; Backmark​: None ;

​Date​: c1770-c1790 ​

​An early issue to the 43rd that was replaced for other ranks by a version showing the number within a laurel wreath.

Silver 46th South Devon Regiment button(y)

THE 46th REGIMENT OF FOOT. / AFTER 1881 :- 2nd Battalion The Duke Of Cornwall's Light Infantry

The Northamptonshire Regiment was raised in 1741. It too was part of the Great Siege of GIBRALTAR from 1779-83 and was awarded the Castle and Key emblem. The most famous Battle Honour TALAVERA was gained in 1809 during the Duke of Wellington's campaigns against the French in the Peninsula. At the same time they earned the nickname "The Steelbacks" for their ability to show complete contempt when being flogged with the cat-o'-nine tails, then a normal method of administering punishments in the Army even for very minor crimes.

Museum link

Description: Crowned 50, lion atop within ring and semi-circle design.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 18.5mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy, silvered; Backmark​: I NUTTING KING STREET COVENT GARDEN;

​Date: c1790-1803  ​

50th Regiment of foot button

The first regiment known as "50th Regiment of Foot" was raised in North America in 1755 by William Shirley, the British governor of Massachusets. It counted about 1,000 men.

This regiment was disbanded on December 22 1756.

In December 1755, a new regiment originally ranking as "52nd" was raised by Abercromby.

In 1757, when the original "50th" and "51st" regiments of foot were disbanded. The "52nd" officially became the "50th Regiment of Foot".

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:

• from 1755 to December 22 1756: colonel William Shirley (this was the initial North American regiment)
• from December 25 1755: James Abercromby (this was the British regiment)
• May 30 1756: Studholme Hodgson
• October 24 1759: John Griffin Griffin (Whitwell), 4th Lord Howard de Walden
• May 5 1760 to September 5 1764: Edward Carr
• In 1881, they amalgamated with the 97th

Description: 52 crowned within wreath with OXFORDSHIRE written below.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Convex 19.5mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy silvered; Backmark​: FIRMIN & LANGDALE (1815-21);

​Date: C1800-1830 (Pattern in use)  ​

An officers example to the 52nd which was simply the 52nd Regt of Foot from 1757-1782, then Oxfordshire between 1782-1803, then Oxfordshire Light Infantry (1803-81).

Officer - 1855-1881

19thC The 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot button

53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot button

52nd who were in the West Indies from 1780-1800 . Known as the 53rd Regt of Foot from 1757-1782, then Shropshire between 1782-1881.

Description: Raised 55 on chequered ground within raised octaganol design.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 23mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy gilt; Backmark​: S.F;

​Date: c1778-1783 ​

55th Regiment of foot

The regiment started out as the 59th Regiment of Foot raised in Gloucester in 1755. After the disbandment of the 50th Regiment of Foot and the 51st Regiment of Foot in 1756, it became the 57th Regiment of Foot. In 1782, it was given a county connection, becoming the "57th (the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot".

The 57th Regiment earned their nickname of "the Die Hards" after their participation in the Battle of Albuera, one of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsular War, fought on 16 May 1811

58th (Rutlandshire)
Regiment of Foot

1740.....the 58th Regiment of Foot
1756.....47th Regiment of Foot
1756......changed back to 58th Regiment of Foot
1757.....58th Regiment of Foot
1782.....The 58th ( Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot.
1881.....2nd Battalion of the Norhamptonshire Regiment
Present.....Now forms part of the Royal Anglian Regiment

58th Reg web site

60th Regiment of Foot

( Royal American )

Description: 63 incised within eight pointed star.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 22mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy silvered; Backmark​: I McGOWAN GERRARD ST LONDON

​Date: c1800-1820  ​

An officers example to the 63rd unusally with incised rather than raised numerals, known as the 63rd Regt of Foot 1758-1782 and then West Suffolk 1782-1881.

65th Regiment of foot button

2nd Yorkshire North Riding 1782-1881.

Description: 68 within wreath sprigs and outer rims of beads and florets.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Flat 21mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy, silvered; Backmark​: NUTTING & SON KING ST COVENT GARDEN

​Date: c1803-c1808  ​

The 71st Regiment of Foot was a Highland regiment in the British Army, which in 1881 became the 1st Battalion

The 71st Regiment of Foot was first formed in 1758 from the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Regiment of Foot

1797-1811

73rd Regiment of foot button

The 73rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1780. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 42nd Regiment of Foot to form the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1881.

Officer - 1845-1855

77th Regiment of foot button

The 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line regiment of the British Army from 1787 to 1881

79th Regiment of Foot

( Cameron Highlanders )

80th Regiment of foot button

Description: 80 under Staffs knot under crown within wreath.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Convex 18mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy gilt; Backmark​: C JENNENS LONDON 

​Date: 1820-1830  ​

19thC 82nd Regiment of foot button

​The design to the 82nd remained largely unchanged until 1881, from 1793 until 1881 the unit was he 82nd (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) Regiment of Foot.

82nd (Prince of Wales Volunteers) Regiment of foot

The 82nd Hamilton Regiment

The 82nd Regiment, also known as the Hamilton Regiment, was assembled in 1778 in Scotland. As the thirteen American colonies had decided on independence from Great Britain, the 8th Duke of Hamilton was appointed to form a regiment to reinforce its troops in North America. Potential recruits from the Lanarkshire district were plied with guineas and port to join the regiment. In addition, a detachment of soldiers enlisted for service in the 42nd and 71st regiments, the Black Watch and the Fraser Highlanders, were ordered into the 82nd. They refused and were convicted of mutiny. King George III pardoned them, perhaps on the condition they serve in the 82nd regiment.
Six companies were raised and set sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Brigadier-General Francis MacLean led the 82nd regiment, with the 74th regiment, to Penobscot Maine to construct a fort and interrupt shipping in and out of Boston, and also provide security for those remaining loyal to Great Britain.
A large force of 3,000 men in nineteen ships and twenty four transports laid seige on the fort unsuccessfully for three weeks. British reinforcements arrived, causing the Yankee force to flee up river where some ships were grounded, others set fire to, and those not killed travelled over land back to Boston. The leader of the Yankee forces, Paul Revere, was court-martialled and acquitted after the trial dragged on for three years. As the Penobscot fort was destroyed, the troops of the 82nd were returned to Halifax for garrison duty.The second and final mission of the 82nd was to assist General Cornwallis free the Carolinas. They succeeded in capturing Wilmington to keep Cornwallis' lines of communication to the sea open. However the forces capitulated in Yorktown, and Cornwallis committed suicide. Many were incarcerated as prisoners of war. The war ended , and in October, 1783, the 82nd regiment sailed from New York for Halifax where it disbanded. A tract of land containing 26,030 acres was set aside for the soldiers in Pictou County and it became known as the 82nd grant.

The land was surveyed and divided into lots for the soldiers to draw their number. While some sold their lots without seeing them, others visited the lots and promptly returned to Halifax to re-enlist.
About fifty actually moved to Pictou County.

19th C

85th Regiment of foot regiment button

Raised in 1793 as the Bucks Volunteers, then BV Light Infantry added in 1808, BV Duke of York's Own LI 1815-21, BV Kings LI 1821-27 then 85th (The Kings LI) Regiment 1827-1881.

O/R's (Brass) - 1855-1881

Date: c1820-1840 

90th Regiment of foot button

Raised 1794

The 93rd Regiment

The 93rd Regiment was raised three times before it became the Sutherland Highlanders.

Sutherland Fencibles

The 1st Sutherland Fencibles were raised in Scotland from the area of Sutherland and Caithness in 1759 and disbanded in 1763 by Lord Reay.

1779: 2nd Sutherland Fencibles raised by Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland (done in practice by Lt. Col. William Wemyss of Wemyss).

1793: 3rd Sutherland Fencibles raised by Wemyss. Served in 1798 Irish Rebellion. Disbanded April 1799 at Ft. George.

Upon the disbandment of the two regiments in 1799, the new 93rd Regiment was recruited from the recently disbanded Sutherland Fencibles by their old colonel William Wemyss, at this time a Major General in the British Army, on behalf of his 16 year old cousin Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland.

94th regiment of foot

The regiment was raised in 1793 from the men of Connacht by John Thomas de Burgh, 13th Earl of Clanricard.

In 1881, the 88th (Connaught Rangers) Regiment of Foot (which formed the 1st Battalion) and the 94th Regiment of Foot (which formed the 2nd Battalion) were amalgamated. The amalgamation of the two regiments into one was part of the British Government's Childers Reforms of the British Armed Forces which was, in turn, a continuation of the Cardwell Reforms implemented in 1879. At that time five infantry battalions were given Irish territorial titles.

The Rifle Brigade
(Prince Consort's Own)

1812 95th Regiment of Foot (Riflemen)
1816 The Rifle Brigade

The Kings Royal Rifle Corp 1872 - 1939 Also worn by The Rifle Brigade

96th (Queen's Own Germans) Regiment of Foot

1824 96th Regiment of Foot
raised at Manchester

98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot

1807 - 1824, 1848
The 98th Foot of 1805-15 was raised in 1805 and served some years in Bermuda and New Brunswick. It was renumbered as the 97th in 1815 and disbanded in 1818. It served in the Atlantic region of Canada from 1814.

Description: 98 within plain inner circle.

Category:​​ Regular Army;

Type of button: Convex 15mm ​;

Metal: Copper Alloy silvered; Backmark​: EXTRA STRONG PLATED 

​Date: c1820-1840  ​

100th Regiment of foot button

Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment

Raised in Ireland in 1804 for service in the Napoleonic Wars

Great find Unrecorded 103rd Regiment of foot button

Royal Genadiers button ?

106th Regiment button

The 106th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Light Infantry) was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Durham Light Infantry, which was itself later amalgamated into the Rifles.

19thC

1761-1763

112th Regiment of foot button (King's Royal Musqueteers)

1761-1763