Canada N.S. XXV button
 

Hi,
This button is one-piece, low convex, 26 mm, gilt.
Its backmark is "Superior Quality", british made.
The construction suggests a "mess waiter's" button.

I could not find any documentation, but it has sufficient
clues to make identification a piece of cake.

It was recently purchased from Northern France.
My guess is 1920s/1930s. I cannot imagine someone commissioning liveried servant's uniforms for an officer's mess behind the trenches.

May I request identity & period of use?
bns

Buttons of the Canadian Militia
Army Naval and Air Forces
1900-1990
by Eric Smylie

p.74

OS-25
25th battalion CEF
Halifax N.S.
Colchester and Hants Regiment.

You might want to transfer this to the Canadian part of the forum.....

25th Battalion CEF ?
 

Dear Patrick,
Thank you for your prompt response.
I have the booklet - and I did not even bother to check that particular section.
As it is a 26 mm, one piece construction button I was sure it was a messwaiter button.
I am going to check my small lot of CEF buttons and I am going to follow up.
In the meantime, please find a scan of its back attached.
One more question: are you aware of any CEF one-piece buttons?
best regards,
btns

I don't know much more about this subject.

Truly sorry!

Canadian NS XXV button
 

Hi,
All my (2) other C.E.F. buttons are regular 2-piece, i.e. front shell, back plate & shank designs.
This one is 1-piece.

Here are some 1934 Firmin prices for buttons:
- Infantry of the Line and Territorial, buttons, gilt, large doz. 3/6; small doz. 2/6
- Buttons regimental, bright gilt/plated/bronzed coat doz. 3/6 for officers, 1/- for rank & file.
- mess waiters buttons prices taken from "Buttons, Livery Crest: gilt/silver plated/oxydised or bronzed 6/-

My two other buttons would have been 3/6 and 1/- per dozen, the XXV would have cost 6/- per dozen.

I am happy to put it with the CEF buttons. After all it was purchased from southern Belgium.
thanks,
btns

Just to add to the information here on this button there is three sizes, see attached photo, one is smaller for the pockets and shoulders and the last are chin strap buttons for the peaked cap. These cap buttons are the hardest to find. To my knowledge these were worn mainly by the officers of the battalion I have seen no photographic evidence that the rank and file used these buttons. I suspect the senior NCO (RSM) may have also worn these due to them being issued a officer style badge. I am not sure how I missed this post the first time around.

Stephen

XXV Nova Scotia
 

Thank you all