K L A. B H button, is it military?

[High Wood]

I have this button that has the white horse of Kent and the letters K L A. B H. I am hoping that the letters stand for something like: Kent Light Artillery. I can find nothing on the internet with these initials.

The concave reverse is marked: Firmin and Sons, Ld. St Martins Lane. London.

Any help to identify this button would be appreciated.

Apologies for the quality of the photograph.

[Cribyn]

Hello High Wood

It is not a military button I recognise but going by the backmark it must date from after 1875 which is the year Firmin became a Limited Company. Dating buttons by their backmarks is always a dodgy business (and not the exact science that some websites would have you believe) but at least with the 'Ltd' part of the address we can be on safer ground!

I do not see the usual 'Invicta' on the scroll - it may be there, just not very visible. Perhaps there is some significance to that.

Sorry not to be more helpful but at least I will bump this post back to the top.

I do hope it turns out to be for that almost forgotten Yeomanry unit the "Kent Light Artillery. Buller's Horse"!

Regards
Roger

[High Wood]

Roger,

thank you for your input. The button is not in good condition and it is difficult to tell if the crest ever bore the legend, Invicta. I have added a slightly clearer photograph.

[ebro]

Simon,
Possibly Kent ? ? ? Hospital?
Eddie

[Cribyn]

Hello Eddie

You could be on the right lines there "Kent Local Authority. B...Hospital" - anyone care to fill in the blank? Bromley?

Roger

[btns]

Originally Posted by ebro

Simon,
Possibly Kent ? ? ? Hospital?
Eddie

Could it be Kent Local Authority?

[Phil2M]

burns hospital?

[High Wood]

Could it be Kent Lunatic Asylum. Barming Heath?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakwood_Hospital

[Cribyn]

I think the last post cracked the identification of this one - Kent Lunatic Asylum Barming Heath. A similar button has just appeared on ebay -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian-...item3cec0e8103

[High Wood]

It is the same button. I am not keeping it as I bought it thinking that it had a military connection. It was not offered for sale on the forum as it is not a military button.

[Cribyn]

Hello High Wood

Sorry, I had no idea it was the same button, I thought it looked quite different! There was me thinking I was being clever and confirming the identity of an unknown button!

Of no interest to me as it wasn't military.

Oh well, I'm off into the corner with the dunce's cap on!

Roger

[High Wood]

Roger,

no apology necessary. I thought that it was more likely to sell on the other site than the forum.

Simon