Suffolk VTC button

[Sonofacqms]

I have a Suffolk VTC button, I think this is one of the few counties that actually had their own design on VTC buttons. Does anyone else have any different VTC buttons?

Rob

[Rob Miller]

Hi Rob

I asked the same question a few years ago, but I can't find the thread now, it seems to be impossible for the search function to recognise 3 letter words.

But from memory this is the only VTC button known at the time.

Rob

[Cribyn]

Hello Rob

There was an article in "Button Lines" several years ago by Howard Ripley on buttons used by the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC). Your button was one of the few individual designs Howard had identified as being used by a VTC unit.

The article is quite old and new research may have added to the following list but I am not aware of any additions.

The vast majority of VTC used the 'General Service' pattern button (in brass, bronze or leather) but the following units had their own design -

1st Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment;
2nd Battalion City of London Volunteer Regiment (Corps of Citizens) (not illustrated in the article);
Wembley Home Defence Corps;
City of Westminster Volunteers;
Volunteer Corps of Old Blues;
Bath Athletes' Volunteer Force;
Birkenhead & District Volunteer Training Corps;
Suffolk Volunteer Training Corps (the button you showed); and
Wolverhampton Volunteer Rifle Corps.

Unfortunately for copyright reasons I am unable to reproduce the drawings here. I have asked the current editor of the Journal for permission to do so in the past but this has been denied.

If any particular button/s is/are of interest let me know and I will describe it/them for you.

Roger

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Cribyn

Hello Rob

There was an article in "Button Lines" several years ago by Howard Ripley on buttons used by the Volunteer Training Corps (VTC). Your button was one of the few individual designs Howard had identified as being used by a VTC unit.

The article is quite old and new research may have added to the following list but I am not aware of any additions.

The vast majority of VTC used the 'General Service' pattern button (in brass, bronze or leather) but the following units had their own design -

1st Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment;
2nd Battalion City of London Volunteer Regiment (Corps of Citizens) (not illustrated in the article);
Wembley Home Defence Corps;
City of Westminster Volunteers;
Volunteer Corps of Old Blues;
Bath Athletes' Volunteer Force;
Birkenhead & District Volunteer Training Corps;
Suffolk Volunteer Training Corps (the button you showed); and
Wolverhampton Volunteer Rifle Corps.

Unfortunately for copyright reasons I am unable to reproduce the drawings here. I have asked the current editor of the Journal for permission to do so in the past but this has been denied.

If any particular button/s is/are of interest let me know and I will describe it/them for you.

Roger

Roger,

The inability to reproduce images here notwithstanding, is the 1st Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment button, illustrated in the publication you cite?

Regards,

JT

[Cribyn]

Hello JT

Yes, the 1st Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment is illustrated and described as "1 over crossed bayonets with the monogram CLVR below, a black horn button".

I have one of these and will put a photo up tomorrow if that would help.

Roger

[4966Ian]

Hi Roger,

Hopefully, this will save you digging out a photo of the button.

The versions of this button that I had were as follows :

Diameter = 24.5mm
Backmark = JAs GROVE & SONS . HALESOWEN .


Diameter = 17.3mm
Backmark = (none)


Hope that is of some help.

Cheers

Ian

[Cribyn]

Hello Ian

Yes, that's the same button even down to the backmark!

Thanks for posting.

Roger

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Cribyn

Hello JT

Yes, the 1st Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment is illustrated and described as "1 over crossed bayonets with the monogram CLVR below, a black horn button".

I have one of these and will put a photo up tomorrow if that would help.

Roger

Originally Posted by 4966Ian

Hi Roger,

Hopefully, this will save you digging out a photo of the button.

The versions of this button that I had were as follows :

Diameter = 24.5mm
Backmark = JAs GROVE & SONS . HALESOWEN .


Diameter = 17.3mm
Backmark = (none)


Hope that is of some help.

Cheers

Ian

Roger and Ian,

Thank you both. Much appreciated.

Regards,

JT.

[TWGB]

Rob,

Just a comment that this exact design was also used in Mufti badges for the Bristol VTC and the Godalming VTC, with a lapel fastening in place of the look on the back and enameling in the crossed rifles and letters.

I also have an inkling that the Sheffield VDC might have had their own buttons, basically the Sheffield cost of arms.

Best regards,

Tim