A Nepalese Enigma

[davidwyke]

Nepal has been in the news a great deal recently, sadly for tragic reasons. The UK has had strong military ties to Nepal since the Nepal War of 1814-1816, which led to the recruitment of Nepalese Gurkhas initially into the HEIC Armies and subsequently into the Indian and British Armies. As everyone knows, the Gurkhas have served this country loyally and courageously until the present day.

Shown below is a brass button with the simple depiction of a Victorian crown over "Nepaul" (the earlier spelling of Nepal). It's large size, brass and has a "Special Quality" backmark. I would guess it dates c. 1860's - 1890's. There is a problem here though: Nepal has always been an independent nation and has never come under British Imperial or Colonial rule. So why would a button from Nepal have a QVC?

A British Residency was set up in Kathmandu in 1816 and it's possible that this button was worn by the Resident's bodyguard or staff. I've seen a few examples of this button, all identical to mine, but I've never seen an officer quality button, a headdress badge or any other insignia from such a unit. I wonder if anyone else has such items in their collections or has seen any?

David

[High Wood]

As Nepal has been a monarchy until fairly recent times it is possible that buttons were ordered from a British firm in Victoria's reign and they used a British Crown instead of the very different Nepalese one. Very unlikely I know as I would have expected a design to have been submitted.

[davidwyke]

Hi

Thanks for the response!

It's possible but unlikely as I've seen Nepalese buttons from the same sort of period with the correct Nepalese crown. Also, it's unlikely they would have "Nepaul" in English. I definitely think there is a British useage to the button.

David

[gurkharifles]

Hi David - I've had this button in my collection for a number of years and have never been able to identify it ( but it came with a job lot of other Gurkha insignia ) - no crown but the spelling of "Nepaul" and a makers mark of Harp & Levy Ltd Leicester. Tim

[davidwyke]

Hi Tim

It's a coincidence that you should post a photo of that button. I've been contacted by a friend (not a forum member) who has seen this thread. He advises that he has had both buttons in his collection for many years and also a third pattern. The additional one is the same as yours but with "Nepal" spelling. He obtained them from a retired (British) Indian Army Officer who said they were worn by the "Escort To The British Resident In Nepal". Apparently mine is the first pattern worn and yours is the second, the other being the third. Whether that ID is correct or not I don't know but it's more or less what I guessed.

The backmark on your button is interesting, don't recall seeing that before. It might be the retailer rather than the manufacturer.

I think that could be two mysteries solved in one go!

David

[pinfrin]

' Nepaul ' Clasp [Oct 1814 to March 1816] to Army of India Medal [1799 - 1826]

Battle Honours ' Nepaul ', however, were not sanctioned for any.
So the buttons may not be for units listed in below.

Attached scan from page 201 of British Battles and Medals Spink 2006 edition.

[davidwyke]

Hi

Thanks for that! I initially thought that "Nepaul" might relate to one of the regts which served in that campaign but I checked all the regts concerned in Col Poulson's Indian Army button books and was able to eliminate them all.

David

[Cribyn]

Originally Posted by gurkharifles

Hi David - I've had this button in my collection for a number of years and have never been able to identify it ( but it came with a job lot of other Gurkha insignia ) - no crown but the spelling of "Nepaul" and a makers mark of Harp & Levy Ltd Leicester. Tim

Hello David

I have exactly the same button, same spelling of 'Nepaul' and same backmark (I think it should be Hart & Levy Ltd though) and I was also told that the button was for the "Escort To The British Resident In Nepal".

Regards
Roger

[Piffer]

Originally Posted by davidwyke

Nepal has been in the news a great deal recently, sadly for tragic reasons. The UK has had strong military ties to Nepal since the Nepal War of 1814-1816, which led to the recruitment of Nepalese Gurkhas initially into the HEIC Armies and subsequently into the Indian and British Armies. As everyone knows, the Gurkhas have served this country loyally and courageously until the present day.

Shown below is a brass button with the simple depiction of a Victorian crown over "Nepaul" (the earlier spelling of Nepal). It's large size, brass and has a "Special Quality" backmark. I would guess it dates c. 1860's - 1890's. There is a problem here though: Nepal has always been an independent nation and has never come under British Imperial or Colonial rule. So why would a button from Nepal have a QVC?

A British Residency was set up in Kathmandu in 1816 and it's possible that this button was worn by the Resident's bodyguard or staff. I've seen a few examples of this button, all identical to mine, but I've never seen an officer quality button, a headdress badge or any other insignia from such a unit. I wonder if anyone else has such items in their collections or has seen any?

David

The button is to the Nepal Escort and worn till the Escort was disbanded in 1947. The Nepal Escort was an Indian Army unit and has its origins in the Champaran Light Infantry.
Further Info on the regiment is to be found in Izzat -Historical Records of Indian Cavalry regiments 1750-2007 and Sowars and Sepoys ( Author Capt A. Nath) in the Great War, which also illustrates the button and badges of the Nepal Escort.

[davidwyke]

Hi

Many thanks for that, mystery definitely solved now!!

David

[peter monahan]

Well done, Piffer!

[gurkharifles]

Always good to have a mystery item solved especially when it's such an interesting unit! Could I ask whether you'd know what this button is ?

I have nearly 100 Gurkha buttons and only 2 are brass - the one I've already shown and this one. No crowns, no "Nepaul" - makers mark of "RANKEN" ? & Co. Ltd Calcutta. Measures about 16mm.

[davidwyke]

Hi

Your button is definitely an Officers button (small size). Ranken, Calcutta was a major supplier of buttons to Indian Army officers for many years.

I thought the button might be 91st Punjabis (1903-1922) as they wore a plain gilt button with crossed knives. Unfortunately, it's not. The knives on their button (known as "dahs") are not the same. Yours definitely look like kukris so I'm afraid I don't know the answer.

David

Additional thought - the button in this post is an officers button, the 2 buttons earlier in the thread (mine and yours) are both O/R's. It's unlikely but I wonder if this button might also be the Nepal Escort, in that Officers & O/R's might have worn different patterns? Possible, but I have a feeling that's not the correct answer!!

Another thought - could your button have originally been blackened??

[badgecollector]

Originally Posted by Piffer

The button is to the Nepal Escort and worn till the Escort was disbanded in 1947. The Nepal Escort was an Indian Army unit and has its origins in the Champaran Light Infantry.
Further Info on the regiment is to be found in Izzat -Historical Records of Indian Cavalry regiments 1750-2007 and Sowars and Sepoys ( Author Capt A. Nath) in the Great War, which also illustrates the button and badges of the Nepal Escort.

hey piffer
if this button is as you say to the Nepal Escort, and they disbanded in 1947, did the button design change? did the crown design change as this looks to be a Victoria period crown. i have one of these buttons also and just trying to date it
bc

[davidwyke]

Hi BC

I think the button with the QVC which we both have was probably worn pre 1902, the pattern with crossed kukris & "Nepaul" came after that, followed by a similar button but with "Nepal". This is the info I've been given and presumably is what "piffer" means. It was probably this latter button which was worn until 1947. No doubt he will correct this if I've got it wrong!

David