Help with Victorian Crown ER Button identification

[Corey]

I post this some time ago but as I now have two and I little more info I would like to ask again.
Squeaky wheel so to speak.

I have been searching for such a long time to find out where this button fits in...
And if it could be part of any New Zealand Volunteer units
that seved here at that time.

I first found the button long ago at a car boot sale in a bag of military buttons.
Then just this weekend I popped into a local antique shop and had a rummage in a box of buttons and found a bunch of white metal Volunteer Artillery buttons and also what I think is a small brass General services corps Volunteers, all with the Victorian crowns.
But to my surprise in amongst the lot was another brass Vic Crown ER .
So now I have two of these mystery button's

All I have found is the maker
Smith & Wright Ltd, the limited added 1888-1889.
With the crown obviously changing 1901.
So that's my time frame

I have also only recently found this exact button in a NZ volunteer button collection with the description ER?.
Sadly the owner of that collection has passed away .
Last two photos attached.

Thanks for taking the time to read.
Any help appreciated.

Cheers
Corey

[atillathenunns]

Most definitely it is an Edward Rex cypher of King Edward VII (1901 to 1910).
I would doubt that it is NZ Volunteer as the 1895 universal-pattern volunteer button was in use at that time.
It could be a NZ Volunteer officers button, but it is not officer quality IMO.
Possibly an NCOs button for someone on the Permanent Staff.
Until one turns up on a hat or uniform it will remain an enigma.

[Milmed]

Originally Posted by atillathenunns

Most definitely it is an Edward Rex cypher of King Edward VII (1901 to 1910).
I would doubt that it is NZ Volunteer as the 1895 universal-pattern volunteer button was in use at that time.
It could be a NZ Volunteer officers button, but it is not officer quality IMO.
Possibly an NCOs button for someone on the Permanent Staff.
Until one turns up on a hat or uniform it will remain an enigma.

Just an observation and opinion... I doubt the ER relates to Edward Rex and suggest the 'R' represents the word Rifles, so we could be looking at a Victorian period 'E.. Rifles' unit

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Milmed

Just an observation and opinion... I doubt the ER relates to Edward Rex and suggest the 'R' represents the word Rifles, so we could be looking at a Victorian period 'E.. Rifles' unit

As far as NZ Volunteer buttons go, without a crown could be 'E? Rifles,' but with a crown its a cypher that matches the one used by Edward VII.

[atillathenunns]

It may be a Railways button

MA_I251900_TePapa_Military-Insignia_preview.jpg

[Corey]

Just recently I spotted this same button for sale on trademe with a description for the ER.
I should have asked where he found this info.

Cheers
Corey

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Corey

Just recently I spotted this same button for sale on trademe with a description for the ER.
I should have asked where he found this info.

Cheers
Corey

His information is incorrect, in 1902 there was no ER "General Issue" button, there was however a 1895 "Universal-pattern button" worn by all Volunteers who did not have an approved button such as Artillery.

The following clipping is interesting it was published in the New Zealand Mail, on 25 SEPTEMBER 1901.

NEW ZEALAND MAIL, ISSUE 1543, 25 SEPTEMBER 1901, PAGE 22.JPG