24th Regiment of Foot, officers’ mess waiter’s 27mm gilt button

An extemely good 27mm example of the gilt button the 24th Foot , which became The South Wakes Borderers after 1881. The button has the backmark FIRMIN & SONS 153 STRAND LONDON & 13 CONDUIT ST. For some reason which I do not understand the numbered buttons of the 24th are somewhat scarce and this is the first example we have come across in decades.  The regiment is best remembered for for two 19th century actions, the 1849 Battle of Chillianwala during the Punjab campaign [when the regiment suffered 21 officer casualties and 503 other ranks] and the defence of Rorke’s Drift during the Zulu war where 11 Victoria Crosses were one.  sep21/1