Corps Buttons & Cloth Insignia

Buttons came in three sizes, depending on the use and not all buttons were issued in the various sizes.

1. Large, 25mm. 40 Ligne.
2. Small l9mm. 24 Ligne.
3. Cap. l4mm. 22 Ligne

There were also different methods of manufacture, which were:

1. Flat (or One-Piece)
2. Curved
3. Convex
4. Half Ball
5. Bullet & Ball Buttons

Officer vs. Other Ranks:

Officers often wore gold-plated or silver-plated buttons, while regular soldiers were typically issued brass. Officers’ buttons generally had fixed shanks (the loop on the back), whereas other ranks frequently used buttons with movable attachments.

Standardization:

In the 1870s, the General Service (GS) button was introduced. These standardised brass buttons and featured the Royal Coat of Arms and were issued in large numbers.  They were used by most of the then Corps & Regiments including MMP.  This button was originally in yellow brass until 1881, when all military buttons and badges were made in Gilding metal.

After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 the GS buttons were to change, the Kings Royal Arms replaced the Queens Royal Arms; this again was worn by most of the Corps and Regiments.

The 1st Queens Crown was the Victorian Crown was replaced with the Imperial or Tudor Crown in 1902, this was not to change again until 1952 when the St Edward’s Crown was used by Elizabeth II.

The only buttons authorised for MMP & MFP were brass Royal Arms General Service buttons.

Buttons with a George V cypher were introduced c.1926 and worn at the wearers own expense, other than that GS buttons were worn.

Edward VIII buttons for CMP were produced but never worn.

During the George VI era there were two patterns of button – the first being a George V style cypher, the later being a standard GVI cypher- the difference in style being that the later pattern did not have the G & R entwined as with the GV cypher.

Please Note there are some gaps with missing items, which will be added when images are available