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#1
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Cape of Good Hope I.D
Hello chaps, can you help with Identifying the following buttons. They were found at the site of the battle of Blueberg, in the Cape of Good Hope in 1806.
Thanks Garry. |
#2
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That's an interesting assortment, Garry.
If they are relics of the battle, then the two with the word 'Francais' may be connected with the 'French marines' who formed part of the Cape forces. They were the officers and men of two French ships which had been wrecked at the Cape. The button with the monogram VOC and the anchor would have come from the Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie ('Dutch East Indis Company') which governed the Cape from 1652 to 1795. The buttons with the shield showing the three cannon would be from the British Board of Ordnance, so perhaps one of Gen Baird's staff officers. The button with the star of the Thistle might relate to one of the Highland regiments (71st, 72nd or 93rd) in the battle. For the record, the units in the battle were : Cape 22nd Batavian Republic Infantry Hottentot Ligte Infanterie (sic) Waldeck Regiment (German mercenaries) 9th Batavian Republic Jägers Light Dragoons 5th Artillery Javanese Artillery (Cape Muslim men) Horse Artillery French 'marines' Burgher cavalry Train (supply and transport etc) British Royal Navy seamen Staff Royal Artillery 24th Foot 59th Foot 71st Foot 72nd Foot 83rd Foot 93rd Foot
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Regards Arthur |
#3
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Please add pictures of the reverses of these buttons (in the same order).
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#4
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Thanks for the interest chaps.I am part of a team doing a dig headed up by the Archeology department University of Cape Town and Western Cape local Government of the battle site. Items found so far, include Buttons,coins, musket balls, cannon balls, grape canister shot, parts of muskets ext. Fortunately it falls within the Blouberg nature reserve 18 kilometers north of Cape town and has been declared a National heritage site.The small button Has S d F on the front, our thinking is could it be the Sutherland Fencibles, who were incorporated into the Sutherland highlanders around that time. Also the Highland regiments left from Cork which could explain the Donogol button. Interestingly ti was the first time the the Highland regiments came together as a Brigade (Highland Brigade). Unfortunately the buttons are back in the collection I will try and get pics of the back.
Garry. |
#5
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Hi Gary,
Nice to hear that the archaeologists finally got to dig this site. I spoke many years ago with the chief archaeologist at National Heritage and they were planning on doing a dig but main concern been the layers of cape sands covering the original site. I have also identified similar buttons dug up by Heritage at other sites in the cape (mainly old homesteads). The VOC button (top row button 5) has a small anchor above and roped border. I believe this related to the naval forces of the VOC. Buttons (1, 3, 4 top row) and (5 bottom row) are all French I believe and are probably quite easily re-searchable. Buttons (1 middle row and 2 bottom row) are Royal Artillery (ordnance arms) Buttons (4, 5 middle row and 1 bottom row) are English and again probably easily identified. Buttons (2 top row and 2, 3 middle row) I believe are high end clothing buttons worn by Dutch officials. These may or may not be military related. Button (4 bottom row) I believe is also Dutch or Batavian forces. The coat of arms should be re-searchable for a clearer ID. Regards Steven |
#6
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Hi Garry
Just to add a "postscript" to what has already been said. Button 4,(second row) viz, 8th Kings Royal Irish Light Dragoons ; The 8th LD arrived at the Cape on 19th Novr 1796 and departed 4th June 1802, therefore took no part in the first invasion (or indeed the second). I am a bit puzzled by button 5 (second row) ... does it say "Dominica" above the crown or is it "Donegal" ? PS: Just to add to Arthur's list re British Regiments involved in the second invasion; 20th Lt.D, 38th Foot, & a detachment of HEIC Recruits, although admittedly the first two ( viz 20th Lt.D & 38F) were landed at Saldanha Bay (4th Jan 1806) and so did not take part in the subsequent fighting. Last edited by Jeff Mc William; 30-11-17 at 04:59 PM. |
#7
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Maybe a little bit off topic:
Quote:
But please be aware of the fact that the German word Jäger has the plural Jäger (no change!). Also, why use a German word in an English text on a Dutch subject? In Dutch the word is jager and the plural is jagers. BTW, IMHO the highest number in use by a Jager unit in the Dutch forces around this time is 4e Bataljon Jagers. Thus I am not sure what unit this is.
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Henk Interested in the lineage of the unit your badge represents? Try: Regimental lineages |
#8
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The umlaut was courtesy of the forum software's autocorrect function.
Quote:
It may have been a unit raised for colonial service.
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Regards Arthur |
#9
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Quote:
BTW, I doubt it is the forums software (I have no problem whatsoever to type jager and jagers), but the software of your operating system/desktop environment. Thanks a lot for that list. Some homework for me to find out where that 9th fits
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Henk Interested in the lineage of the unit your badge represents? Try: Regimental lineages |
#10
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Thanks for the excellent input and advice chaps. The small button has Donagol Volunteers on the front.The 8th Kings Royal Irish button was found at what we now believe was the field hospital. Bearing in mind that they are both Irish and that the Scottish regiments were based in Cork in 1805. It could be possible that they rejoined and kept part of their old uniform or even went as auxiliary personal. Can anyone confirm the 104 button? We think it could be the Argyle Militia, who were disbanded round about 1800. We have a print of The HET GEZIGT VAN DE CAMP OF DE KAAPSHE VLANTE AAN LIESBEEKS RIVIER AAN DE KAAP DE GOEDE HOOP 1804. which shows the 9th Jagers encamped 3rd on the left.According to our information, which was taken from dispatches and the Cape Archives 202 Jagers took part. Thank you for the spelling information we also have spelt it wrong on a few occasions.
Garry. |
#11
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Still hoping you can show us the backs of these buttons.
I'll give you a clue on row 3 item 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utrecht It was common at the time to recruit experienced men for military services overseas. A 1799 law allowed Militia soldiers to transfer to the regular forces and serve abroad. Many did not get new uniforms issued and went in their original uniforms. |
#12
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This may help too. A silver Duit 1755 Utrecht (VOC) Dutch East India Coy
Utrechh silver Duit 1755 VOC Rev.jpg Last edited by Jeff Mc William; 08-12-17 at 05:03 PM. |
#13
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I stumbled into some information about the 9e Bataljon Jagers.
Apart from the four battalions I knew, there where five more. After the Peace of Amiens these were raised. The 5th - 8th were for the West Indies and the 9th for Kaap de Goede Hoop. The 9th was created from light companies of several Marine regiments raised about the same tine. After the renewal of the war and the actions painted above they were repatriated during 1805 and disbanded (dispersed throughout the infantry).
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Henk Interested in the lineage of the unit your badge represents? Try: Regimental lineages |
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