I Should have joined earlier! - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

manchesters · #1 06-02-14, 11:27 PM

Hello,

My name is Simon Butterworth and I live in Lancashire, England.

I have collected British military badges for over 45 years now and have changed my collecting theme several times over the years.

For the last 20 years I have collected solely to the Manchester Regiment, including its componant units such as the 63rd Foot, 96th Foot, 6th Lancashire Militia and all the Lancashire RVC's that made up its Volunteer Battalions. I have an extensive collection of badges, medals, and every other item you can think of ralating to the Regiment and believe the badge collection to be the largest in existence.

I am a member of the Manchester Regimental Museum Committee and catalogued its collection. They have asked me to prepare a publication on the Regiments badges but I cant see a time when it will be finished!

A side line of mine is collecting Kings Crown Commonwealth Artillery 'Field Gun' style Cap Badges and British Red Cross Badges, titles and medals.

I know several members on here, particularly those that are interested in the Manchester Regiment. I am sorry I havent joined previously but for the last 10 years I have really been pre-occupied with collecting, researching and writing about Manchester Regiment medals, rather than my true interest which is badges. So its time to get back to my roots.

I hope I can help others on the forum, particular with British badge identification as I have a wealth of knowledge I have built up over the years and have handled both metal and cloth badges of all periods.

I also would like to learn more from collectors of Commonwealth Artillery badges particularly the CEF battery badges which are a minefield.

I (think I) have attached a couple of photos as a small taster below.

thankyou

badger123 · #2 07-02-14, 12:27 AM

Welcome Simon, stunning picture!

Ivan

irish · #3 07-02-14, 01:46 AM

Hello Simon, welcome, great looking photos
Best
Jack

johnG · #4 07-02-14, 05:35 AM

Welcome Simon, you are a very valuable addition to the forum membership.

Peter Brydon · #5 07-02-14, 08:35 AM

Hello Simon and welcome.

Peter

2747andy · #6 07-02-14, 10:52 AM

Simon,
Welcome, I suppose the first question someone was going to ask, so it may as well be me, is who wore the solid bi-metal "Coat if Arms" often mis-referred (?) to as a "Pals" badge?

Andy

Baptism by fire

ronb0848 · #7 26-02-14, 03:38 PM

hello, im contacting you in desperation simon, i looked at the titles you told me
about on e bay, but unfortunatly they are not the type im looking for.
im trying to obtain a pair of manchester titles but they must be the woven type not printed.
im puting to gether a battle dress as worn by myself in the mid 50s, and need to get hold of the titles.
if you happen to have a spare pair, or know where i may be able to obtain apair i will pay a good price for them.
hope you can help.
yours ron, ex manch regt

J47 · #8 25-03-14, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

Hello,

My name is Simon Butterworth and I live in Lancashire, England.

I have collected British military badges for over 45 years now and have changed my collecting theme several times over the years.

For the last 20 years I have collected solely to the Manchester Regiment, including its componant units such as the 63rd Foot, 96th Foot, 6th Lancashire Militia and all the Lancashire RVC's that made up its Volunteer Battalions. I have an extensive collection of badges, medals, and every other item you can think of ralating to the Regiment and believe the badge collection to be the largest in existence.

I am a member of the Manchester Regimental Museum Committee and catalogued its collection. They have asked me to prepare a publication on the Regiments badges but I cant see a time when it will be finished!

A side line of mine is collecting Kings Crown Commonwealth Artillery 'Field Gun' style Cap Badges and British Red Cross Badges, titles and medals.

I know several members on here, particularly those that are interested in the Manchester Regiment. I am sorry I havent joined previously but for the last 10 years I have really been pre-occupied with collecting, researching and writing about Manchester Regiment medals, rather than my true interest which is badges. So its time to get back to my roots.

I hope I can help others on the forum, particular with British badge identification as I have a wealth of knowledge I have built up over the years and have handled both metal and cloth badges of all periods.

I also would like to learn more from collectors of Commonwealth Artillery badges particularly the CEF battery badges which are a minefield.

I (think I) have attached a couple of photos as a small taster below.

thankyou

Hello Simon,

The second of your pictures show the colour patches that I asked you about last week.
I found this post while looking for examples of the Manchester colour patches.
I thought if you saw them you would now know what I was talking about.

James.

manchesters · #9 25-03-14, 12:54 PM

James,

If you mean the 42nd East Lancashire Divisional badges, (the coloured numbers on diamonds), those are nothing to do with the 6th VB, they were introduced in WW1 and worn by Territorial Bn's on their upper arms and occasionally on their Wolsley Helmets.

Could you repeat the question, and I will try to answer it now I know what you are referring to bythe term colour patches.

regards

Scaith · #10 03-09-15, 07:52 PM

HI, sorry to budge in out of the blue. Do you have an image of the first Belltop Shako plate for the 63rd Regiment of Foot. I've been in touch with the Manchesters Museum and they say they only have a description (which a dead computer HDD has lost) and the IWM don't even seem to know what a belltop shako is, or that they just don't like Australians.
A friend named Howard Simcoe has made inquiries on this forum in 2012 but yet to receive a reply. We are attempting to put together uniforms for the 63rd for use at Government house in Perth.
Thanks for your time.
Derek
Perth, Western Australia.

manchesters · #11 04-09-15, 08:34 AM

Derek,

The museum has a Bell Top Shako but it has a 96th Foot Plate on it.
They dont have a 63rd Foot shako or plate.

I dont have one, nor have I ever seen one I am afraid.
The description of the plate is as follows:-

On the universal plate, a silver Maltese cross 3.5" square with a dead silver edge and balls on the point of the arms. On the edge of the top arm Martinique and on the bottom edge Guadaloupe. Gilt lions between each arm. On the cross a laurel wreath. Within this a strap inscribed West Suffolk Regiment and in the centre the numerals 63 on a green-enamel ground.

I hope that this is of some help.

regards

Frank Kelley · #12 26-02-17, 01:09 PM

Hello Simon,
What do you know of Messrs J H Milton & Co Manchester, were they just retailors or actual manufacturers as far as the Manchester Regiment was concerned?
Regards Frank

manchesters · #13 26-02-17, 02:19 PM

Frank,

Cant say I have ever heard of them, sorry.

regards

Cribyn · #14 26-02-17, 03:54 PM

Hello Frank

I have a silver plated Victorian button to a Volunteer Battalion of the Manchester Regiment with a backmark of "J H Milton & Co Manchester".

From the little research I have done they appear to have been Military Outfitters as their name is found on a very wide variety of military equipment from buttons to swords and military hats. It is unlikely they made all these items themselves so I suspect they were in the supply rather than manufacture business. They were based at 136 Deansgate, Manchester

I believe that the firm later became Milton & Jones of Manchester. I have this name on a button dating from the Edwardian period.

There are also some military items marked "D Jones & Son (late Milton & Jones) Military Tailors and Outfitters 134 Deansgate, Manchester", so the Milton name seems to have disappeared at some point.

Roger