RMA Woolwich backmark
 

"J. PURCHASE. WOOLWICH. R.M.A."
Can anyone explain the significance of this backmark on a large (tunic) OR's QVC button?
Evidently RMA stands for Royal Military Academy and as manufacture is not the usual spun-back officers type I suppose button could have been supplied to staff?

Comments Appreciated

GTB

Hello GTB

I have noted this backmark on Royal Artillery buttons as well.

Perhaps wrongly, I reasoned that 'J Purchase' might have been a tailor/outfitter either based at the Royal Military Academy or the 'approved' supplier to the Academy.

Roger

OOps, I forgot to mention the button was RA pattern.
I find it intriguing to utilise an Academy backmark

GTB

Yes, it's certainly unusual.

The only other broadly similar backmarks I know of are "A Darke MT Armoury House" (on an Honourable Artillery Company button) and "F A Stone MT 16th Lancers" (not surprisingly on a 16th Lancers button!).

The 'MT' presumably stands for 'Master Tailor'.

I have always assumed the 'J Purchase Woolwich RMA' backmark was in the same category, that is to say a tailor working for a specific unit.

Roger