Her Majesty’s Queensland Navy: Part 1

I now have an example of a uniform button for Queensland’s colonial navy, dating 1885-1901. It has the same backmark as the one shown on the website https://www.gayundah.info/uniforms-copy-3/

The backmark reads “W. Jones, & Co. 7 Golden Square London”.

Wliiam Jones was previously of Cork Hill, Dublin, where prior to 1822 he had been in partnership with Edward Jones, presumably a family member. From 1859 until around 1896    W. Jones & Co were military accroutrement manufacturers, including of military and naval buttons. The address of 7 Golden Square was current from 1890-1896 according to London directories.

Advertising from 1877. This address dated from 1859-1889.

In 1886 a Sydney journalist was disappointed that a local supplier was not used …

Evening News (Sydney), 15th May 1886 page 3.

At the 1892 Tasmanian Exhibition they won an award for military items. They also made the uniform for Her Majesty’s Colonial Navy of South Australia (see Cossum page 55).

For more on H.M. Queensland Navy, see tomorrow’s post.

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