Pylon,
thanks for the interest shown here.
I'm sure that the more who are looking, with the widest scope of information & knowledge, then the more chance of a successful identification. The search has been going on for a long while already.
Cheers !
Steve
PS: the Canadian 199th (Irish Rangers) in WW1 mentioned as having something odd about it, may well be as shown in Cox's book, though only a drawn illustration of this variety here, it has the 'BIT' of SEPARABIT spelt as 'BIC' ?? Is this the case on the real item also ?
Several well known spelling varients do exist. eg: Order of the Thistle Mottoe.....on several badges....spelt either as..... 'Lacessit' or 'Lacesset' ?
Cheers ,again !