Royal Artllery Boat Crews

I've just added this button which the late Norman Litchfield had described as '.......uncertain - this pattern button has been attributed to RA Boat Crews who operated at Shoeburyness Gunnery Ranges and were responsible for the positioning of off-shore floating targets'. I guess that they also existed at Malta and Gibraltar due to the many coastal forticications and defences.
This is the first blackened or 'Japanned' version that I've encountered and could have possibly been worn by officers on their pea-jacket that replaced the cape (Army Circular 92 of 1869) and the Serge frock (AC 91/1880).
Can any member please confirm this?
Regds,
button_guru

[54Bty]

I have been informed that this button has been identified as that used by the Royal Albert Yacht Club. There is a thread on here some where.

Marc

Thanks 54Bty.
This was your quote:
'The incorrect RN / RA target towing association was assumed by collectors and traders and as such included in privately published lists and catalogues. Over time it made its way into button collectors' magazines.
The author of the recently published book "YC & RC buttons of the British Isles" has been working very hard to include confirmed buttons only. I assume he switched from researching to editing several months ago.
The recently surfaced series of three Harding sample books has the button identified as R. Albert Y.C., die number 254'.

Would this die number be for the QVC or the K/C version as I have both?
Although not debating the fact, the same RA use from 1867 to 1900 is quoted in Cmdr. John H. Wilkins' book: Australian & British naval buttons buckles banners & badges 1748-2006.

Do you think that the RA Musuem has any records on this button, since they should have copies of the Army Orders of the time?
Regds,
button_guru

[54Bty]

Not my quote, that was posted by Btns. The image I have shows a QVC button and the number.

The only record at the RA Museum is a single summary of the Boat Crews that I wrote, and in light of the above is incorrect regarding the button. No orders RA or Army were found describing any buttons for the Boat Crews.

Marc

Many thanks as this news has set matters in place to an old worry. Sorry for thinking that it was your quote. Can you kindly post a link to your quote referred above? I want to keep it for my own reference.
Regds,
button_guru

[54Bty]

Here you go.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ght=boat+crews

Marc

Marc. Thanks onece again.
Rgds,
button_guru

[btns]

I do not hold copyrights to the original picture.
The caption is: R. Albert Y.C.
die number 254 "vest only" (probably a replacement die)
The button is as shown in the 1st section of this thread.

Thanks again and much appreciated.
Rgds,
button_guru

Marc (54Bty) and btns,
I've done a final check on this button with a few contacts and clubs and have come to agree with you. However, there are a few points worth mentioning:
1) A book published in 2010 in the UK by Roger Revell, a button specialist, titled “Yacht and Rowing Club Buttons of the British Isles”. More details here: http://www.goldenagebuttons.co.uk/li...at%20Clubs.htm.
2) There are over 200 of these buttons in the book, considered by many experts as a 'bible' for British yacht club buttons and the 'RA-anchor-crown' button isn't feature as told by two different collector friends who have a copy.
3) Roger goes under the name of Golden Age Buttons and he has various classifications of buttons for sale. In his list of yacht club buttons on the same page quoted above, there's one particular entry: 'Royal Albert Yacht Club. KC above "RAYC" in Old English letters, plain field Brass, two-piece convex, 18.5 mm. £2.50'. Note RAYC. My attachment below is a brass version of the RA button in King's Crown!
4) Having contacted The Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club about this button, the Secretary Capt. Nick Fletcher RN had this to say: Yes, those look like our buttons. The shiny (brass?) version is the same as the buttons that some of our members wear on their reefer jackets now although they are in black plastic. The darker one looks identical apart from the crown and I haven’t got any information on the date of that one.' The 'shiny' button is the brass version below.
My last shot is to write to Mr Revell, although he never replied to any of my past messages.
Thanks for sharing.
Rgds.
button_guru