Welch bi metal

[JerryBB]

A pair of small bi metal Prince of Wales feathers buttons with Buttons Limited backmark.

I assume they are for the Welch though perhaps also used by others.

They were a gift.

[Cribyn]

Hello Jerry

Yes, these buttons were used by the Welch Regiment but also by others.

In his first book on British Army buttons Howard Ripley illustrated a few mess dress buttons and has this pattern as being for the Welch Regiment, although the button he shows does appear to be domed, rather than flat.

The 1900 Dress Regulations gives the mess dress button of the Leinster Regiment as the plume in silver mounted on a plain gilt button, so that's one other possibility at least.

Roger

[JerryBB]

Thanks Roger,

I have the same design, but not the same form on my Welch Regiment officers forage cap

[Cribyn]

Hello Jerry

That's a very nice cap and certainly seems to establish that the domed Prince of Wales's plumes buttons are for the Welch Regiment.

Not that much has been written down about mess buttons, so there may be some significance in the use of a domed button as opposed to a flat button. Perhaps someone on here will know the answer. Is a domed PoW plumes button always for the Welch and a flat PoW plumes button for the Leinster?

Roger

[JerryBB]

Thanks Roger,

I know nothing about the Leinsters but hopefully someone who does will respond.

[4966Ian]

Hi Jerry and Roger,

Not wishing to put the cat amongst the pigeons so to speak, but I have a nagging feeling that an Indian Regiment also had Silver PoW feathers on a Gilt button.

However, I am seriously out of my depth with Indian Buttons.
I have had a quick look through Poulsom (Buttons of the Indian Army) but haven't found anything obvious. The 92nd Punjabis did have a similar design but it was on a 'domed' button - not a flat base/button.

Roger - am I barking up the wrong tree or does this ring a bell with you?

Ian

[Cribyn]

Hello Ian

Yes it is certainly a possibility. There are a lot of possible options I think but tracking them all down is not an easy task.

In many cases Poulsom describes but does not illustrate a button so it might not be obvious at first glance.

Roger

[4966Ian]

Roger,

I have carried on having a look through Poulsom, but can't spot any likely examples. I have to admit I don't find them that easy to search through.

I think your original thoughts on usage are most likely.

Cheers

Ian

[JerryBB]

Are there any good books on British army buttons that cover Officer buttons for caps and mess dress?

I assume this thread covers the subject.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ighlight=Books

[Cribyn]

Hello Jerry

Yes, quite right, that thread covers the most relevant books although most of them do not touch upon mess dress and cap buttons.

Unfortunately there are no books specifically covering mess dress and/or cap buttons. Howard Ripley's first book "Buttons of the British Army 1855-1970" had four pages covering officer's mess dress buttons, some 72 buttons illustrated in all. Three editions, all long out of print but still obtainable on ebay and the like, sometimes for silly prices. His later book on "Buttons of the Regular British Army 1855-2000" effectively replaced the first book but did not cover mess buttons.

There is, as far as I'm aware, no illustrated publication covering cap buttons. The MHS Special Number "Coloured Field Service Caps Infantry" describes the FSC button but does not illustrate them.

Likewise Major Parkyn's book on "Shoulder Belt Plates and Buttons" describes some but not all mess dress and cap buttons.

The series of books (7 volumes in all) by Lt Col Poulsom on Indian Army buttons also illustrates and describes some but not all mess dress and cap buttons.

Some Dress regulations also describe mess dress and cap buttons.

All in all mess dress and cap buttons are a rather neglected subject.

If anyone knows of any other publications on these subjects I would be glad to hear from them.

Roger

[JerryBB]

Roger, I already owned Ripley's "buttons of the Regular British Army and earlier today bought his first book so good to hear that is does indeed cover the mess buttons in some way.

Thanks for replying again.