From the Royal Museums Greenwich collection. Fouled Anchor button on 1774 uniform. Officers’ buttons changed from gilt to silver in 1855. According to R. Montague, this design was current in 1879 on OR buttons in pewter.

According to Ronald Montague: the design on the left was for Officers’ buttons; after 1802 also inscribed with ‘Royal Marines’. The rightward button was for Other Ranks.

From the Royal Museums Greenwich collection. This is a button on a uniform dating from November 1787. The NSW Marine Corps had already sailed, so would have received this button. New uniforms would take up to 12 months to be distributed within Britain, and up to 2 years for overseas detachments.

From 1802 the Marine became the Royal Marines Corps with some changes to the uniform, with further changes in 1823 and 1856.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Marine_Corps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Fleet

https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/colonialforces/imperialforces

https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/71227.html

Geelong Advertiser (Vic), 21st August 1899 page 1.Each colonial artillery then became, for example , the Queensland Regiment of the RAA.

From Pintrest: According to Gwen Squires, the design dates from 1800-1830.

Montague claims this design  (with the border right around the circumference) dates from the period in Australia, but Squires dates it as 1830-55.

The Queenslander, September 29th 1932 page 27. Two badges of the 3rd Foot.

The Queenslander, 6th October 1932 page 20.

Both images from PIntrest: This was the version worn in Australia.

This variation with Roman numerals dates pre 1855. Jennens & Co London.

This button has been repaired, possibly because it was a ‘dug’ item and the back was too corroded.

State Library SA image B6847. Capt. Sturt c.1850.

Image from Pintrest, no origin or date supplied. However, the design was unchanged from the late 18th century until 1855; gilt for officers showing arabic numerals ’39’ under a crown surrounded by a ‘french scroll’ (see on this button). Other Ranks were had a dot between the opening of the scroll.

Version used during the first tour.

Backmark: Firmin’s Ld London. This design was current during the second tour of duty. Brass buttons were issued from 1855.

Numerals within a roped border.

According to Montague, this design was worn in 1818. Officers’ were silver.

This is labelled 1855-81 by Kellu Badges therefore despite being shown in Cossum would not be worn during the deployment.

Squires: O.R., brass, 1855.

Coutesy “Russell Carter: The circle was inscribed ‘Gibralter’, ‘Egypt’ and ‘Maida’. The tunic buttons issued in 1855 had two types of numerals,  large and small.

1840-55 officer’s button.

No backmark.  According to Gwen Squire, Other ranks, brass, 1870-1874. However, as these are turning up in NZ, perhaps they date earlier.

Thanks to Noble Numismatics.  From 1780 until 1809 it was known as the  73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. It depicts a rose and a thistle, gilt for officers, pewter for O.R.

The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 19th January 1910 page 34.

The dimensions along the axes are 26 x 28mm.

Replica Lancers badge

According to the AWM, this General Service button (1870-1880) was sewn onto a volunteers 1887 era tunic, but was removed and replaced with an appropriate silver button, as only permanent and partially paid (Militia) members wore gold coloured buttons and lace. Volunteers wore silver (white metal).

Made by C.Anderson, Sydney. This button has the correct 8 point star.

A NSW Military uniform badge.

Thanks to Noble Numismatics: Naval Artillery Volunteers c.1890 by W.Jones & Co, 7 Golden Square London.

Australian National Maritime Museum collection.

“N.S.W. formed its Naval Brigade in 1861. In 1900 the N.S.W. and Victorian Governments sent Naval Brigade contingents to China to help quell the Boxer Rebellion. This rating is fully equipped for that expedition. In 1901 Australia became a Commonwealth, and naval forces, like the military, came under Federal control.”

The Year Book of New South Wales 1904, page 162.

New South Wales Volunteers: 1860-1870

Following after the 1st New South Wales Rifles of 1854-1860, new volunteering units were formed.

Firmins London

Courtesy of Noble Numismatics.

Sydney Living Museum collection: Private John Joseph Shying, No 5 Company Sydney Battalion Volunteer Rifles, c.1863

Indeed, from August that year several new volunteer corps were being established, with members of the original 1st Volunteer Rifle Corps (described by some as “moribund”) invited to join with the new proposed Sydney Corps. The government agreed to the use of part of the Hyde Park Barracks.

Twenty rifle companies were together designated the ‘First Regiment, New South Wales Volunteer Rifles’. According to https://www.rnswr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/THE-LINEAGE.pdf  “a change in uniform was made, the newly adopted uniform being grey with black facings (the black facings referred to were suggested for the Penrith Company of Volunteers in June 1860, the first such group raised in the Sydney area), an infantry shako and a brown belt”. However, these descriptions were reported in newspapers in 1861:

New South Wales Volunteers: 1870-1880

Thanks to Noble Numismatics.  2 versions of the General Service button of the NSW Volunteers 1870-1880.

The New South Wales Military Forces were created in 1870 after the withdrawal of British forces from the colony. Colonial uniforms followed the style of the British, including the helmets and red and blue uniforms.

Newcastle Volunteer Artillery Corps: 1856-1887

This corps button the same basic design as many artillery uniform buttons, with one field gun facing left, ; but with the letters N V A C above. An example is shown on Cossum page 8, labelled as from c.1875 with the backmark Stokes Maker, Melbourne. The Newcastle Volunteer Artillery Corps existed from 1855 through to 1887. However, the backmark ‘Stokes Maker’ dates the manufacture prior to his partnership with George Martin, i.e. pre 1867, otherwise it would be marked Stokes & Martin.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 6th August 1856 page 4.

The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News (NSW), 22nd May 1861 page 2. The corps only had an ‘undress’ uniform, which they had to provide for themselves. The coat was a scarlet tunic with dark blue facings, with a badge depicting the letter ‘N’ for the shoulder straps.

Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), 19th April 1879 page 32. New government regulations required yearly training camps. This illustration of volunteer artillery is not of the Newcastle division in particular, but they did attend.

The Daily telegraph (Sydney), 10th October 1887 page 5.

For more about this regiment, see

https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/HRP.Fort%20Scratchley.Nomination.17%20Sept%202019.REDUCED%20FILE..pdf

1st Australian Volunteer Horse (NSW): 1897-1903

Hobson & Sons Lexington St. London

The 1st Australian Volunteer Horse were gazetted in New South Wales on the 1st August, 1897.

The Australian Star (Sydney), 6th August 1897 page 5.

This cavalry served during the Boer War and was the source for a number of recruits for the new Australian Flying Corps during World War 1.

The Scone Advocate (NSW), 24th October 1899 page 2.

1st New South Wales Rifles: 1854-1860

Australian War Memorial. No makers mark. 1854-1859

Apart from short lived volunteer associations in 1804-9 that help quell the Irish convict rebellion, this was the first government enacted Volunteer Force, developed in 1854. It was intended to be used in case of internal insurrection or foreign invasion, as the size of the British garrisons were limited, and included a cavalry in a scarlet uniform, artillery in blue and infantry in dark green. The first infantry was briefly known as the Sydney Volunteer Rifles. The original uniform consisted of a dark green frock coat and trousers with black velvet facings and shoulder straps, a forage cap, with the numeral 1 and a bugle as a badge. It performed guard duty at the Sydney mint, and occasional ceremonial duties.

1857: Officers of the Sydney Volunteer Rifle Corps. (from ‘The Australian picture pleasure book.” in the National Library.

See  http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/19th-october-2020/

Backmark: W. Jones, & Co. 7 Golden Square London

From the Australian War Memorial Collection. Made by Hobson and Sons, London circa 1885-1901.

Hebbert & Co. London

1897-1901. The crown used on button on the left is Prince Albert’s Crown, the Guelphic Crown of the Dukes of the House of Hanover.

It was on the advice of Colonel French in 1884 that standard new uniforms in khaki were introduced with new buttons  struck bearing the word ‘Queensland’ . He stated that “The Royal Artillery buttons can be used for the batteries here, but in the event of the Imperial Authorities not having general service buttons (VR under a crown) it will be necessary to have a die made and buttons struck off for the other corps.”

This button dates from the short period between King Edward VII adopting the ‘Tudor’ crown and the amalgamation of the separate colonial forces into a federal service. The separate  forces existed up to 1911 in the State of Queensland. After 1903 a button with Edward VII cypher replaced this one.

A photo in the State Library of Queensland collection shows the earlier VR type button of the Queensland Volunteers (see Cossum page 23).

Queensland Scottish Volunteer Corps: 1885-1897

In 1885 a Queensland Scottish Rifle Volunteers corps was established in Brisbane. By 1888 their strength was 335 of all ranks. Their full dress uniform was the same as that worn by the Gordon Highlanders (Her Majesty’s 92nd).

Backmark: H.W. Martin London. 1885-1897.

Australian war memorial
#REL/18360.001

By 1896 the corps had dwindled. It was briefly revived in 1897.

“Undoubtedly the Queensland Scottish Regiment was one of the most colourful of the Australian Pre-Federation Scottish regiments, the white Soudan spiked helmet and scarlet tunic giving it a very distinctive look. The officer illustrated is of the 1886 period, although the Soudan-type helmet was worm until 1905.”

“When Queensland became a state in 1859 it organised infantry, artillery, engineers and mounted rifle regiments, supported by a small naval force. Volunteer contingents of Imperial Bushmen and Mounted Rifles from Queensland fought in the Boer War. This soldier is a gunner of the Queensland permanent artillery.”

Queensland Volunteer Artillery: 1862-80

This button on Cossum page23 has the letters Q.V.A. beneath a left facing field-gun.

Queensland State Library: seargents from the 1st Queensland Volunteer Artillery.

South Australia

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/16th-november-2020/

Her Majesty’s Colonial Navy: 1884-1901

Her Majesty’s Colonial Navy (South Australia) c.1899. See Cossum page 55.

See http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/16th-november-2020/

South Australian Artillery.

The South Australian Volunteer and Permanent Artillery used this generic artillery button. In a 1925 “Army Historical research” article, it was described as used by Artillery, Machine Gun Corps, and Artillery (permanently employed), 1895-1903″.

Adelaide Times, 8th November 1854 page 3. The establishment of the colony’s first artillery. It was referred to as the Adelaide Volunteer Artillery and consisted of two companies.

South Australia’s artillery had its origins in the two each 6 pounders,  12 pounders and Cohorn mortars sent from Britain and arriving in 1846. During the time of the Crimean War, a small force of artillery was raised. There was almost no training, and the artillery  was required to do little except fire a shot at Port Adelaide to mark noon. Further guns arrived from Britain in 1857.

South Australian register, 11th July 1859 page 3.

Increased concerns about the French prompted the formation of  the Port Adelaide Volunteer Artillery during 1859, although an international shortage of of artillery prevented a build up of equipment. The Adelaide and Port Adelaide corps were merged in 1868 to form the South Australian Regiment of Volunteer Artillery, only to be un-merged in 1877 as the A and B Batteries with an increase in armaments. That’s politics for you.

State Library SA # B 292. Adelaide Battery in 1877.

  A Permanent (paid) artillery was raised around 1883, and a  Machine Gun Corps in 1894. A fort at Glenelg was planned, but came to nothing, with two guns left dumped in the sand. These two batteries were (again) merged as the South Australian Artillery Brigade in 1897.

State Library SA #PRG 1364/1/17. Dress uniform Australian Field Artillery c. 1890.

State Library SA B 13237. Possibly Adelaide Artiilery (Battery B) c.1877.

State Library SA # PRG 742/5/91. Port Glanville c.1882.

Australian War Memorial #AO 3852. !901 portrait of an un-named Colonel of the SA Artillery.

 

South Australian Militia

South Australia’s military forces did not really exist in a stable, ongoing sense until 1877, with the successful reformation of 10 companies of Adelaide Rifles and a couple of artillery batteries. In 1885 a second infantry battalion was reformed (having previously been started then merged) and then in 1889, a third battalion. Even then, the forces were under-numbered, with insufficient training and resources. Many felt the defence expenditure to be a waste of time and money. This button dates from this era.

Although the title of the partially paid volunteers during the period of 1877- 1887 was often written as “Volunteer Militia Force”, it was officially the “Volunteer Military Force”.

The S.A.M. buttons probably date from after 1877 when, following the winding back of previous volunteer forces, a new force was established. The snippet below shows that the firm supplied the new uniforms in 1878.

South Australian Register, 16th March 1878 page 7.

An example with a British backmark can be seen http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=17797&action=edit.

Cossum dates the design below as c.1886, and the ‘Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research in 1957 dated it 1888. At this time a new  Militia uniform (with gold instead of silver lace for the officers) was replacing the old Volunteer Military Forces uniforms. In 1888 G. & W. Shierlaw won the tender to supply unifortms for the next three years.

Evening Journal (Adelaide), 24th October 1888 page 3.

Smith & Wright Birmingham

https://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410211&p=2794489

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_forces_of_Australia

https://manning.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/sa/defence/defence.htm

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/14th-may-2022/

State Library South Australia image#B22008. c.1880

 

South Australian Militia Scottish Company: 1899-1903

South Australian Militia Scottish Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first Scottish Company, the 2nd Adelaide Rifles, was formed in 1866. The next was the  Scottish Company of the S.A.M.F from 1899-1903, afterwards renamed the SA Scottish Infantry and lasting until 1912.

South Australian Rifles: 1854-1860

This had a button similar to NSW and Victorian Volunteer Rifles, but with the letters SAR instead of VR (Victoria Regina), and a bugle.

South Australian (Rifles) Volunteers: 1861-1877

SAV:  Shierlaw & Co Adelaide c.1877

Thanks to Noble Numismatics.According to Cossum page 19; the SA Volunteers, c.1860-70. Note the SAV uniforms were not provided until late in 1861.

From Wikipedia/The History Trust of South Australian. Eastern Suburban Rifle Company, 1860.

From November 1854, the history of infantry in the colony of South Australia was quite convoluted, with volunteer forces being repeated raised, merged and disbanded. From the Diggers History web site ” The constant raising and disbanding of Militia Forces in the early colonial days, was a direct result of the citizen’s reaction to direct threats to their security. Their numbers rose and fell as these threats were realized and then subsided.”

The first reference to a Rifle corps appears in 1854:

South Australian Register, 10th November 1854 page 3.

The Mail (Adelaide), 7th April 1934 page 1.

3rd Battalion Adelaide Rifles

The button, c.1892. bears a circular band, looking like a target.

Tasmania

In 1862 along with the City Guards, other corps of the Southern Tasmanian Volunteers were the 1st, 2nd, Buckingham, Derwent, Manchester Unity, Kingsborough, Houn Rifles,and a Hobart Town Artillery. By 1868 only the 2nd, 4th (Houn) and City Guards remained of all these Rifle Corps.

City Guards: 1860-67

Stokes Maker, Melbourne

Unhappy with the state of crime and policing in there town, in 1860 around 140 men petitioned the Hon. James Milne Wilson, Esq.,MLC. to form a Volunteer City Guard. Although this was but one volunteer rifle brigade amongst others, I cannot but suspect this was a reaction to local crime rather than a desire for colonial defence, by the statement that it was for “the defence and protection of this city only“

The inaugural meeting was held on 26th September, where the Government offered £4000 towards uniforms etc. Over two hundred men offered to serve. Uniforms were decided on, but it took until June the following year for the men to be supplied. Unfortunately, by late 1867 the volunteer movement in the colony was in decline. The presence of regular troops, a peaceful international climate, and the sacking of some popular leaders had reduced the popularity of the movement. The City Guards, also the 2nd Rifles, were disbanded. Only one artillery corps in each of Hobart and Launceston remained by late 1869.

In “Walch’s Tasmanian Almanack and guide to Tasmania for 1863”, the uniform is described as blue with red facings and silver lace. The numbers in 1863 were 203 rank and file. By 1867 they had dropped to 91 rank and file.

Launceston Volunteer Artillery Corps: 1860-1867

Stokes Maker (pre Stokes & Martin partnership)

no maker

In 1860 the L.V.A.T was formed from a rifle corps. They had to supply their own uniforms, paid 2/6 to join and 2/ a month expenses! One year on Queen Victoria’s birthday the volunteer’s pulled their artillery up Windmill Hill by rope as they had no horses, to fire a salute with powder they bought themselves! Members kept the unit going, even through years  (1872-1878) without government assistance. ‘Volunteer’ was dropped from their name around 1886, and they continued as the Launceston Artillery until 1903, becoming part of the Australian Field Artillery.

Tasmanian Defence Forces: 1885-1901

According to Cossum, page 25, this button dates from 1884-1901. This agrees with the backmark, as Hobson & Sons were at 1-5 Lexington Street, Golden Square, West London from 1887-1901. However, please note that the dating in Cossum’s book, whilst correct for the forces, is out in this instance by a couple of years for the actual uniform buttons.

The history of  the colony’s  defence forces was one of government disinterest,  poor or no funding, poorly placed batteries, small permanent force numbers and volunteer units that waxed and waned until the Second Boer War increased interest and support.

In 1874, a government report detailed that only the Hobart and Launceston Artillery Corps remained in the state from a once larger number; the Hobart corps existing in name only, with five officers and no men and “80 stand of arms and accoutrements unaccounted for.” Launceston had a total of 22 men and officers. This small loyal group kept this corp in existence, with no support or recognition, and only obsolete rifles with no ammunition. In the meantime, there were no volunteer forces in the south of the state from 1874 until 1877 when new volunteer rifle groups were raised. These groups dwindled from 1880-1883, then a new Commandant arrived from England. A revival of the forces under this new command seems to have prompted the production of the button above to supersede the previous button. The previous button, according to Cossum, had a similar design but was labelled with ‘Tasmanian Local Forces’. The article below indicates the buttons and other accoutrements arrived from England in 1880 for the Tasmanian Local Forces.

In 1900-01 there were 27 permanent and 2527 volunteers. The batteries were in poor repair, the forces poorly equipped with old, “useless” rifles and wearing either no uniforms or worn out second-hand uniforms. The State Minister of Defence stated  … that it (the forces) had become probably more of a menace to the state than a security.”  Even after federation it took several years before issues of pay and uniforms were dealt with.

“The Tasmanian Regiment began in 1870. Formerly the Tasmanian Volunteer Regiment, it changed in 1897 to the 1st Battalion Tasmanian Infantry Regiment. In 1911 it became the 93rd Infantry Battalion, and in 1916 was the 40th Battalion of World War 1. The 2nd 40th distinguished itself in Timor in World War 11.”

Tasmanian Rifle Volunteers: 1878-1884

In 1878 new volunteer forces were raised after a period of decline in the colony that had left only Launceston Artillery Corps functioning. However, once again the volunteer forces dwindled until a new Commandant arrived from England in 1883, and Tasmanian Defence Forces were raised in 1885.  The new uniforms and buttons did not arrive until 1889!

Tasmanian Volunteer & Permanent Artillery: 1878-1901

 According to Cossum, this button dates from 1884-1901. Whilst volunteer artillery units existed from 1859, the Permanent Artillery was raised on 10th September 1886, so they cannot date from 1884. There was mention in the press of a new uniform for rifle clubs being tendered for in 1889, so perhaps the buttons date from then.

Libraries Tasmania # SD_ILS:652755 Dr E. J. Crouch Southern Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery. c.1885

https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/V/Volunteer%20defence.htm

Tasmania Volunteer Staff, Medical Staff & Retired Staff: 1870-1901

According to Cossum, 1879-1901. Copper with silvered escutcheon of the Queen Victoria cypher. (West Australia had a similar button.) Both below are backmarked C.R. Martin Melbourne.

Frosted gilt on gilt.

Frosted silver on brass.

Thanks to Noble Numismatics: 2nd Tasmanian Rifles by Firmin & Sons

The Mercury (Hobart), 7th February 1862 page 2. This rifle corps may not have lasted for long.

The 2nd were originally the Odd Fellows Rifle Corps, and started in 1860. Their uniforms were dark green with black facings, but changed to green with red facings and gold lace. In 1863 they had 70 rank and file. They were disbanded in 1868.

Victoria

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/28th-october-2020/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/29th-october-2020/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/30th-october-2020/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/1st-november-2020/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/2nd-november-2020/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/26th-june-2023/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/27th-june-2023/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/28th-june-2023/

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/29th-june-2023/

Melbourne Cavalry Corps: 1901-1903

The Melbourne Cavalry Corps was a volunteer corps raised in 1901.

This corps wore buttons of the Victorian Military Forces.

Australian War Memorial collection: “Trooper’s full dress tunic Melbourne Cavalry Corps, Victorian Mounted Rifles” c.1901, complete with brass Victorian Military Forces buttons of the 1880-1893 period bearing the ‘AUT PACE AUT BELLO’ motto and made by ‘H.W MARTIN LONDON’. A similar uniform auctioned by Carter’s sported buttons with the ‘PRO DEO ET PATRIA’ motto, which replaced the ‘AUT PACE AUT BELLO’ buttons in 1891  and which would have been the original buttons used. I guess the uniform at the AWM must have had its buttons replaced.

The Age (Melbourne), 23rd April 1901 page 6.

They had to supply their own uniforms, saddles and horses. Their main duties were  ceremonial, such as attending the opening of the first Parliament in 1901 and forming escort for the Governor. Not surprisingly, this resulted in the cavalry being formed by affluent Melbourne gentlemen, with a penchant for showing off in fancy uniforms and impressing the ladies (according to journalists). Although small in number (20 men in 1903, rising to 50) they were proud of their name and unit, and resisted being merged into the Commonwealth’s new Light Horse. They were allowed to keep their identity as the  No 6 Squadron “Melbourne Cavalry” 10th Regiment, 4th Light Horse  until 1911. The following year all squadron were merged as the 13th Light Horse, Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Permanent Victorian Artillery Corps: 1891-1903

Both backmarked Bowley & Co. Melbourne, but of differing construction.

W. Moncton Melbourne, 1899-1903.

Stokes & Sons Melb

Lincoln Stuart Melbourne

Royal Artillery uniform buttons have a crown depicted over the cannon and ramrod; this style without the crown was used for the pre-federation Permanent Artillery.

An Artillery Corps was created in 1870 after the use of British Corps was ceased, and lasted until 1901. (The design was also used later from 1924 for Artillery Association Uniformed Staff in the United Kingdom.)

Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse 1863-1884.

All the various mounted troops in Victoria were merged into one of 6 troops of the regiment of the ‘Victorian Volunteer Light Horse’ in 1862, renamed the  ‘Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse the following year’.  (See Cossum page 10. The button has the POW plumes over the initials PWVV).  They were disbanded in 1884.

Royal Victorian Volunteers  Artillery Regiment: 1859-1870

Stokes and Martin Maker Melb

Victoria Volunteer Artillery Regiment: 1856-1859

Damaged: no shank or back plate. It was either gilt or silver plated when made.

Backmark: W. Barnard Melbourne. Image used with permission.

There are two versions of this button on Cossum’s book, page 14. It shows a cannon on wheeled cart with the letters V.V.A.R. with a 6 pointed star at each end. This dates the button from 1856-1859, as in 1859 the regiment received the Royal warrant and commissioned new buttons marked R.V.V.A.R. It looks like a one piece, hollow back button, but I can’t be sure it didn’t once have a back plate.

Victorian Artillery Staff

A similar button to this is seen on Cossum page 16. There is no suggested date, but it does have a Queen Victoria Crown (i.e. pre 1902). It may have dated 1870s-1880s.

Wilson King Williams St, London

No backmark.

If you look at Cossum’s book, the New South Wales Artillery on page 8 and the Victorian Artillery Staff on page 16 are the same, apart from the quoted manufacturers. This is because the design was copied directly from the British unlike, for example, the  Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery that had their own design struck.

The backmark relates to the wholesalers of these buttons. Barron & Wilson were cutlers/ironmongers in London from at least 1824 until 1885, when it became Wilson & Son at King Williams Street, London. They were sporting goods/kitchen/hardware merchants. Therefore the button dates post 1884.

Ifthis dating for Wilson is correct, then the button was for the Victorian Artillery, as Cossum dates this design as 1870-80 for New South Wales.

Victorian Cavalry Regiment: 1885-1892

See http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/30th-october-2020/

The ball type button for both the Victorian Horse Artillery (Cossum p.15) and the Victorian Cavalry Regiment (Cossum p.16) are very similar. In Cossum’s book the first was made by Firmin of London and seems to have a “Queen Victoria” type crown, and the second made for Bowley & Co., Melbourne, with a Tudor type crown, but is based on the small diamond crown she wore after Albert’s death. Apart from that, the design is the same so I have some hesitancy in firmly identifying the button in case both troops were supplied with the same/similar buttons.

Victorian Horse Artillery: 1889-1897

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/30th-october-2020/

The Victorian Horse Artillery was a wealthy man’s project. Landowner and grazier Sir William Clarke founded the horse artillery and based it at his property Rupertswood, near Sunbury. His son Rupert commanded the battery. The Clarkes provided 60 horses for the horse artillery, at substantial cost.  The Regiment cost him nearly £2000 a year. This regiment lasted from 1885 until disbanding in 1897, after Sir William Clarke had died and with the  Government not considering the expense justifiable.

Victorian Military Forces: 1880-1901

This consisted of the Victorian Rangers and the Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Stokes & Martin Melb 1892-3 The motto is  ‘Pro Deo et Patria’ (For God and fatherland/country) which a dates it to 1891 or later. As Stokes’ and Martin’s partnership dissolved in 1893, that button presumably dates to a short period around 1891-3.

Lincoln Stuart & Co. 1893-1901

Unmarked. 1891-1901.

From left top clockwise: Brockworth’s London, Stokes & Sons Melbourne, H.W. Martin London, Bowley & Co. Melbourne, Stokes & Sons Melb.

The Victorian Rifle Volunteers were renamed in 1889 as the Victorian Rangers, and were often drawn from rifle clubs. The button is similar to the universal New South Wales pattern, but with a star instead of a lion in the centre. The motto was adopted in 1875  ‘Aut Pace Aut Bello’ (In Peace and In War). This changed in 1891 to ‘Pro Deo Et Patria’ (For God and Fatherland).

The Age (Melbourne), 10th June 1891 page 7.

The buckle of the garter is usually depicted on the left side at the bottom (as seen by the viewer) as in the above left sided button, but Stokes and Sons produced buttons with the buckle to the right. I think this was in error by Stokes.

Victorian Naval Artillery

The excerpt from the financial statement shows that their were Naval Volunteer Artillery as early as 1856.  This may refer to the Victorian Marine Artillery Corps that was in existence from 1856-1860. Perhaps this was the unit this uniform button belonged to?

During July 1856 a “Marine Artillery Company” at Williamstown was established, and the first fort was built there during 1860. This corp lasted until 1884 under the name of the Williamstown Volunteer Artillery. However, they had their own uniform button, as seen on page 15 of Cossum. It shows the QV crown over a side profile field gun, and the letters W. V. A. underneath. Does anyone have one of these?

In 1863 there was a new Volunteer Bill, with new enrollments, which may be why Cossum dated the button above as circa 1863.

Victorian Naval Brigade: 1885-1901

Backmark: C. R. Martin Melbourne

Stokes & Sons Melb

The colony’s naval reserve was reorganised in 1885 as the Victorian Naval Brigade, lasting until 1907 when the Commonwealth Naval Force was established. The buttons show an upright Anchor (not tilted/lazy) and a Queen Victoria Crown. Note that the rope crosses over then under the shank on the CR Martin version, but under/over the shank of the anchor on the Stokes version.

As well as a double rows of 10 gilt buttons, there are another 3 buttons under the front flaps, and 3 on each cuff. Australian Maritime Museum http://collections.anmm.gov.au/en/objects/30360/victorian-naval-brigade-officers-jacket;jsessionid=B742AA0669DFA8A1D7FBE3A3FD27D648

In 1900 five hundred sailors of the New South Wales and Victorian naval brigades, as well as the South Australian warship ‘Protector’ went to China to help suppress the Boxer uprising. Although they arrived at Tiesen too late to be involved in the fighting, they were involved in a nasty suppression of the town of Pao Ting Fu.

Critic (Adelaide), 28th July 1900 page 10. Victorian Naval Brigade going to China.

Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), 4th August 1900 page 39. Officers of The Cerberus.

Victorian Rangers

Stokes & Martin Melb.

Victorian Rifle Regiments: 1880-1890

Thanks to Noble Numismatics for the following image.

Stokes & Sons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1884 it was decided to replace the Victorian Volunteer forces with a militia (part time, partially paid). The militia was continued until federation. However, most units that existed before 1884 remained in existence.

“This soldier’s spiked helmet illustrated here was in vogue, typical of those worn by the British line regiments, and similar to those worn by the German Army in the Franco-Prussian War. The West Melbourne regiment was formerly the 1st Victoria

 

Victorian Volunteer Rifles: 1860-1870

From an auction catalogue of Noble Numismatics https://www.noble.com.au/site/docs/cats/sale_117/A19.pdf page 182; with thanks.

The corresponding uniform button (see Cossum page 9) shows a similar bugle with block capital letters ‘VR’ within the loop. The Queen Victoria crown is separated from the bugle by a small gap. The background is finely striped. The makers mark is T. Stokes, Melbourne (i.e. pre 1867).

The Major General gave a speech complimenting and encouraging them, concluding …

“Attached to this officer’s chest belt is a whistle on the end of a chain, while on his left sleeve he wears crossed muskets, a sportsmanship award. By the year 1860 this volunteer movement was well established and preparations were in hand for the fortification of Hobson’s Bay and Port Phillip Bay.”

In 1858 the Ballarat Volunteer Rifle regiment was formed, of four infantry and two cavalry divisions. This soldier, a Ranger of the Ballarat Volunteers of 1874, has a busby made of sealskin and wears a marksmanship award on his left sleeve. Volunteers were issued with Lancaster percussion muzzle-loading rifles.”

In 1902 Victoria had the second largest force, including the Victorian Mounted Rifles and the Victorian Infantry Brigade and volunteer units.

Victorian Volunteer Service: 1870-1880

According to Cossum, 1870-1880, British make.

Thanks to Noble Numismatics. According to Cossum page 9 this is a Victorian Volunteer Service button c.1875. This crown, although similar to the Tudor crown adopted by Edward VII,  depicts the ‘small diamond crown’ Victoria wore after 1870.

In 1870 British regiments were withdrawn from Australia, with small numbers of permanent and larger numbers of volunteer artillery and infantry forces taking over protection of the colony of Victoria. In 1884 the volunteers system was replaced with a partially paid (semi-volunteer) militia.

West Australia

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/uncategorized/15th-november-2020/

Apart from a short lived attempt at a local volunteers force in 1829, it was not until 1861, upon the withdrawal of British troops, that volunteers group were formed in Fremantle, Perth and elsewhere.

The West Australian (Perth), 5th January 1933 page 38.

Albany Rifle Volunteers: 1878- 1885

The button on Cossum page 28 has the initials ‘ARV’ in very ornate gothic script surmounted by the Queen Victoria crown.

In 1884 only 28 out of a possible 54 men presented for inspection by an unimpressed Colonel Angelo. On March 31st 1884 they were disbanded.

Albany Defence Rifles: 1885-1888

Thanks to Noble Numismatics: Albany Defence Rifles 1885-1888.

This unit was raised in 1885 very shortly (approx 5 weeks) after the Albany Rifle Volunteers was disbanded. It started with 73 men all ranks but quickly dwindled. In  May 1888 it was disbanded, re-raised and renamed on the same day, which must have left everyone dizzy!

The Plantagent Rifles continued, although it was a small force, until 1897.

Fremantle Volunteer Rifles: 1861-1870 

In 1861 Fremantle formed one of the earliest corps in West Australia.  Due to problems caused by the small local population and poor resourcing, they disbanded in 1870.

Fremantle Rifle Volunteers: 1872-1893

The button as shown on page 28 of Cossum had the initials FRV in gothic script, surmounted by the QV crown and surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Rising international tensions during 1872 lead to a new Fremantle Corps being formed. In November 1893 the Perth, Fremantle and Guilford companies were amalgamated into the 1st Infantry Volunteer Regiment, but reportedly remained separate corps.

Guildford Rifle Volunteers: 1874-1894

The button labelled as from Guildford has only the Gothic script initials of ‘GRV’. Without knowing the providence of the button shown, it may possibly been from the Geralton Rifle Volunteers ( see post on 23rd January.)

Attempts to form a volunteer corps in Guildford started in 1861, but did not get off the ground until 1872. At its peak in 1890 it had 6 officers and 114 other ranks. In 1899, together with Perth and Fremantle, it became the 1st Infantry Regiment; Guildford being the named “E” company.

https://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1940352/the-volunteer-movement-in-western-australia-guildford-rifle-volunteers/

Geraldton Volunteers: 1876- 1897

Northampton Rifle Volunteers: 1884-1899

Backmark: Hobson & Son. Haymarket London.

Although there was interest from 1881, funds were not made available for this corps until 1884, formed as a detachment of the Geralton Corps although it had its own title. While it started with a strength of 40 men, when it was finally disbanded in 1899 due to ‘general inefficiency’ it was clear that many of those on the rolls were no longer attending and there were no new recruits coming forward.

I have not found an image of the Northampton Volunteers. Please let me know if you have any.

Perth Mounted Rifle Volunteers: 1894-97

The button shown on Cossum page 29 is very handsome, showing a mounted soldier with the name ‘Perth Mounted Rifles’ in a band around the circumference. The number enlisted dropped quickly from 44 down to 24 in the first 2.5 years. It was disbanded in 1897.

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/17th-april-2021/

Pinjarra Mounted Rifle Volunteers: 1862-1882

This uniform, a replica of the 6th Dragoons, sported cloth covered buttons. They started in 1862 with 18 men, and peaked at around 88 in 1873. In 1882, after dropping to a strength of only 26 the corps was disbanded.

Western Australian Highlanders: 1903-?

Thanks to Noble Numismatics  c.1903.

Stokes & Sons Melb.

This unit was raised in 1903. It is not clear when it was disbanded, but a new Cameron Highlanders of WA was raised in 1936.

Western Australian Troop of Volunteer Horse Artillery: 1870-1882

Originally called the Union troop of West Australia Mounted Volunteers and raised to form escorts for the Governor, it was renamed and repurposed in 1872. This uniform also sported cloth covered buttons. It became the Perth Volunteer Artillery in 1882.

York Rifle Volunteers: 1878-1899

The button features the Queen Victoria crown with the name ‘York Rifle Volunteers’ and a 5-point star in a border around the circumference. The uniform’s scarlet tunic had black facings with black initials upon the shoulder stays.

As with other volunteer groups, initial interest in 1861 did not result in a local corps until 1878 (due to lack of funds,personnel, etc). In 1878 the corps strength was 40 men, but soon dwindled, and was disbanded after only 8 years. it did not help that the men had not received suitable rifles for over 5 years, and had been threatened with disbanding (due to financial difficulties in the colony) in 1879.

 

1st Infantry Volunteer Regiment: 1893-1901

Tony Earl’s button.

This regiment was formed from the existing Perth, Guilford and Fremantle Rifle Volunteers in 1893 and existed until Federation.

The West Australian (Perth), 17th November 1893 p 6.

Officer’s mess dress jacket and vest. Image used with permission.

Australian Army Museum of WA: the Queen’s Colour of the 1st Infantry regiment (WA Volunteer Forces), presented 1896.

Boer War Contingents 1899-1902

I have included here the Royal Australian Artillery, which was established in 1899 and served in South Africa.

1st Australian Horse 1897-1903

 When the Boer War broke out, the 1st Australian Horse sent two contingents to South Africa, where they served as a cavalry squadron, the first group arriving in December 1899, and the second in February 1900. They left for Australia at the end of March 1901.

Sunday Times (Sydney), 17th April 1898, page 7.

Australian Nursing Service

“Australian women made history when a detachment of nurses was organised and sent to South Africa to tend the wounded. Such a move was a victory in women’s fight for equality and recognition of their rights. Illustrated is one of these brave nurses who carried on the wonderful traditions of Florence Nightingale.”

As the only pre-existing reserve force, the NSW contingent of nurses were the first official group to leave for South Africa on 17th January 1900 as members of the NSW Medical Corps. As such, the button clearly seen on their belts, cuffs and shirt fronts would have been that of the NSW Military Forces. The costumes were of dark gray serge with a 3/4 length red cape, a muslin cap and a bonnet for outdoor wear.

Australian War memorial. 1902 portrait of three nurses of the NSW Army Medical Corps with souvenirs of their time in South Africa.

Royal Australian Artillery

R.A.A. Stokes Melb

In 1898 the government of New South Wales sent a request to Downing Street that their artillery be named the ‘Royal Australian Artillery’, which seemed a bit cheeky (even to Downing Street) so they in turn suggested the combined colonial artillery units of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria be thus named, as there existed a permanent artillery only in those colonies at that time. The Victorian Government thought this step should wait until Federation. The Premier of NSW then suggested that the permanent artillery forces of each colony could be be designated a battery of the RAA, so if such forces in the other colonies be raised they would then be included. The Victorian government accepted this idea, and the Queen gave her assent on 14th July, 1899.

Geelong Advertiser (Vic), 21st August 1899 page 1.Each colonial artillery then became, for example , the Queensland Regiment of the RAA.

Only months later, the whole of the Victorian regiment of the RAA would be volunteering for service in the Transvaal. They were joined by the machine-gun section of the Queensland Regiment and 17 men and officers from the NSW regiment. A further field artillery unit left with the second division later that year.

The photos below are from Royal Australian Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), 28th October 1899 page 25.

“No. 1 Gun and Men.”

 

South Australian Contingent

SA contingents to South Africa 1899-1902. Cossum page 20. Backmarked Shierlaw & Co, Adelaide.

From November 1899 until June 1902, nine contingents comprising 1531 men from South Australia (not including some who were already in, or made their own way to South Africa)  and around 1510 horses.

The “General Service” design button was used by troops from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia serving in the Boer War.

Tamanian Contingent

“This soldier is fully equipped for departure to South Africa, to fight alongside members of other Australian Colonial Forces in the Boer War. It is interesting to note his slouch hat turned up on the right side, instead of today’s conventional left side. Khaki had become the accepted service colour at that time.”

From November 1899 until May 1902  around 800 Tasmanian men in 5 Tasmanian contigents and a further 3 Commonwealth contingents departed for South Africa.

 

Western Australian Infantry

From the back of the card: “When British regular troops were withdrawn from Western Australia in 1863 there were only three volunteer units in existence. But from that time the volunteer movement was to grow steadily. In 1899 Western Australia sent troops to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. The officer illustrated is in full dress uniform.’

Around 1161 West Australian men served in 6 WA contingents and a further 3 Commonwealth Contingents.