Not always what the seller thinks !!! - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Peter Brydon · #1 30-04-17, 12:53 PM

It seems the seller got the wrong Regiment for this button :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19th-centu...%257Ciid%253A1

But he then makes a great comeback in the additional information at the end of the listing.

P.B.

Cribyn · #2 30-04-17, 03:03 PM

Hello Peter

It is often assumed that just because a button has a number on it then it must be a pre-1881 British infantry button.

Not such an easy mistake to make in this case though as the button has "West Indies Regt" on it!

It seems that he is going to get a good price for it though!

Roger

grenadierguardsman · #3 30-04-17, 03:04 PM

Andy

GTB · #4 20-05-17, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cribyn

Hello Peter

It is often assumed that just because a button has a number on it then it must be a pre-1881 British infantry button.

Not such an easy mistake to make in this case though as the button has "West Indies Regt" on it!

It seems that he is going to get a good price for it though!

Roger

If my eyes are serving me well, I see 'West India' rather than 'West Indies'!

GTB

fougasse1940 · #5 20-05-17, 10:39 PM

My eyes make it West India as well.

Rgds, Thomas.

Cribyn · #6 21-05-17, 07:14 AM

Well, one of us needs better glasses, probably me, as I still see a six letter word 'Indies' rather than five, 'India'! I think we are all agreed though that it wasn't the 8th Foot!

Roger

GTB · #7 21-05-17, 09:56 AM

I believe the West India Regiment originates from 1795 whereas the Bristish West Indies Regiment was a WW1 formation, however I haven't delved into any in-depth research. What is incontrovertible, though, is that button is very old. It appears to be Georgian.

Concerning the title on the button, I allow that it is highly degraded and so may unfortunately cause confusion. I have revisited the title and am convinced that it must be 'India' as I see an 'A' followed by a dot.

GTB

Peter Brydon · #8 21-05-17, 09:57 AM

Couple of mentions of a "8th West India Regiment" in Frederick.

A great price for a badly worn button. I think we have become used to vendors on E bay having a tale to add provenance to items but it the seller did in fact find the button on a Fort site in the Caribbean then it should not be too difficult ( ?) to positively identify the regiment.

P.B.

Cribyn · #9 21-05-17, 10:05 AM

Hello

I'm not disagreeing over this particular button, 'India' or 'Indies' as I really can't see it that well. However, buttons marked 'West Indies' (belonging to the 2nd and 4th Regiments) have been excavated at Fort George, Grenada, in the West Indies and have been dated to the late 18th/early 19th centuries so the title 'West Indies' was used on buttons that long ago.

Roger

GTB · #10 21-05-17, 10:23 AM

Googled.

GTB

GTB · #11 21-05-17, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cribyn

Hello

I'm not disagreeing over this particular button, 'India' or 'Indies' as I really can't see it that well. However, buttons marked 'West Indies' (belonging to the 2nd and 4th Regiments) have been excavated at Fort George, Grenada, in the West Indies and have been dated to the late 18th/early 19th centuries so the title 'West Indies' was used on buttons that long ago.

Roger

Roger

Yes, you are correct, 'West Indies' was used as a title on early-period military buttons. Someone apparently intermingled both appelatives, whether officialy or not I have no idea.
GTB