Engineer Volunteers v Volunteer Engineers QV Buttons

[at57]

Hi,

I have two QV buttons: One named to Engineer Volunteers and the other Volunteer Engineers.

Does the change in title signify a date period or different units or something else?

Button details:

Engineer Volunteers – Closed back – Backmark: FIRMIN & SONS LONDON. Size: 22mm dia.

Volunteer Engineers - Closed back – Backmark: HOBSON & SONS 1 3 & 5 LEXINGTON St. White metal. Size: 23mm dia.

Many thanks
Regards
Andrew

[Cribyn]

Hello Andrew

Your button on the left in the photo is attributed to the Middlesex Engineers. This was suggested in an article by Howard Ripley on 'Buttons of the Artillery Volunteers and Engineer Volunteers' published in the MHS Bulletin in 1980. There was no confirmation at the time and I am not sure if there has been since.

The button on the right is the 'general pattern' for Volunteer Engineers. Just to confuse matters there is also a version with 'Engineer Volunteers'. The titles changed some time late 19th century. If David is about he might be able to give you more information as this change came up in a recent button thread but I cannot find it, sorry!

The 'Hobson' backmark on the second button would suggest a date on the 1880s region. The Firmin backmark is not so easy to pin down as they seem to have used this backmark over a long period of time, both before and after becoming a limited company in 1875.

Regards
Roger

[at57]

Many thanks Roger,

Is the Middlesex Engineers button Officers of ORs? It is really of nice quality.

General pattern for Volunteer Engineers I am assuming is an ORs button.

Regards
Andrew

[Cribyn]

Hi Andrew

It is difficult to be 100% certain about other ranks or officers without seeing the back (although this is not always a fool proof method!). I would think you are right though, the Middlesex button is for officers and the second one, being white metal, is for other ranks.

Roger

[at57]

Hi Roger,

As we are on the subject of Volunteer Engineers I thought I would show my only other offering.

Silvered, small sized: 18mm dia. Backmark: JENNENS & Co LONDON.

Regards
Andrew

[Cribyn]

Hi Andrew

Always had a soft spot for buttons by Jennens, superb quality. Very nice officers' button you have there, the 'spun back' is typical of an officers' button.

Roger

[High Wood]

Here is another example by a different maker.