6th Vol Bn. Gordon Highlanders, officer’s silver plated button, 27mm

An excellent example of the officer’s large 27mm button of the 6th Volunteer Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders with the backmark of FIRMIN & SONS LD, LONDON. The usual distinction between volunteer  and regular battalions is that the buttons of the former were silver plated whereas those of the latter were gilt. A few regiments had completely different designs, such the 5th Bn Seaforths, but I cannot recall others that adopt the practice of this button. It has the same design as the regular battalion button but with the addition of 6th V B before the regiment’s title on the upper scroll. The scrolls above the sphinx and beneath the tiger do not have the battle honours EGYPT and INDIA that were earned by the regular battalion.   

This example came from a captain’s moth eaten doublet. It would have been worn at the very end of the Victorian era or the beginning of the 20th century. mar5/1