Accra Militia Button

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

Every now and again I get a button that is truly exciting (well to me at least) and this week I have had not one but two such finds arrived, so here is the first.

This stunning little domed, gilt button is to the Royal Accra Militia. Accra is a town, the capital of Ghana. This button dates from the period when this region was a British Crown Colony known as the Gold Cost.

I have never seen a button to this militia unit before and can only assume the unit was very small and as such this button is very rare.

Two questions for any experts out there.

The 'domed' style of this button is unusual for a Militia unit and as I'm not a uniform expert, I wonder if anyone could share thoughts on what it would have originally been on? I suspect maybe formal evening dress?

The next question is to date. I've done a lot of research but I'm struggling to tie down dates for the Royal Accra Militia, so if anyone has happened across further details, would love to hear.

Cheerio and thanks for allowing me to share,

Roy

[Chacal]

Hi Roy

Lovely button. I regret I can't answer either of your questions, but I can say there appears to be no mention of this unit in either volumes of British Colonial Badges, which suggests it was very short-lived and/or had no distinctive badges of their own. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chip in but I suspect this to be very rare, and possibly the first inkling (to collectors) that it ever existed.

Well done!

Graham

[Roy]

Thanks Graham,

Appreciate that. Yes, I suspected as much when I first clapped eyes on it, one of the reasons that I found it so intriguing.

Always something new to discover and learn.

Cheers,

Roy

[Milmed]

Hi Roy,
If you do a search on google for "Royal Accra Militia" the hits you get refers to your button, but if you search for "Accra Militia" then we find reference via google books to a native militia unit under Captains Hanson and Bannerman during the 1st Ashanti war 1824 to 1831.

There is also mention in 'A Vanished Dynasty" of the English fighting line at the battle of Dodowa :
Cape Coast Militia under Mr John Jackson
Anamabo Militia under Mr Hutchinson
Accra Militia under J W Hanson
Christianborg Militia under Mr Henry Richter
Royal African Colonial Corps

It appears only the Accra Militia was under an army officer and your button is an officers button, so may have originally belonged to either Captains Hanson or Bannerman. Your button would have been private purchase and may be very unique with only one or two sets manufactured for these officers uniform.

Hope someone can shed more light on this interesting button.

Regards
Steven

[Roy]

Hi Steven,

You clearly have much better 'google' skills than I do mate, VERY much appreciated.

It really never gets boring.

Cheers,

Roy