Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Compiled by . . . Tim Burt, Hamwic House, PO Box 895, Elora, ON, Canada, N0B 1S0

Royal Navy - Buttons of Rank Page 01

RN Flag Officer - 1748 RN Flag Officer - 1748 RN Flag Officer - 1748 RN Flag Officer - 1748 RN Cap't / Comm'r - 1748-1774Coat & Waistcoat Waistcoat & Breech Legs RN Lt-Dress - 1748-1767In use 1748 - 1757 In use 1748 - 1767 RN Midshipman - 1748-1787

In Gilt Lace In Gilt RNC Scholars - 1748-1787In Gilt In Gilt In use 1748 - 1787

In Gilt

RN Lieutenant - 1748 RN Lieutenant - 1748 RN Lieutenant - 1748 RN Lieutenant - 1748( Undress ) ( G. P. Dress ) ( Undress ) ( Dress )

In Pewter or Silver In Gilt or Silver ( Hand Engraved Variation ) In Æ Gilt or Silver GiltIn use 1748 - 1767 In use 1767 - 1787 In Pewter or Silver In use 1748 - 1774

In use 1748 - 1774

RN Lieutenant - 1748 Capt / Commander - 1774-1787 Capt / Commander - 1774-1787 Capt / Commander - 1774-1787( Dress ) RN Master & Mate - 1787-1807 RN Master & Mate - 1787-1807 RN Master & Mate - 1787-1807 Var. 03 . . . 1774 - 1787

In Æ Gilt or Silver Gilt RN Surgeon - 1787-1805 RN Surgeon - 1787-1805 RN Surgeon - 1787-1805 In use 1774 - 1787In Pewter or Silver RN Purser - 1787-1807 RN Purser - 1787-1807 RN Purser - 1787-1807In use 1748 - 1774 RN Warrant Officer - 1787-1860 RN Warrant Officer - 1787-1860 RN Warrant Officer - 1787-1860

RN Midshipman - 1787-1812 RN Midshipman - 1787-1812 RN Midshipman - 1787-1812RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1787-1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1787-1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1787-1812

RN Instructors - 1727-1842 RN Instructors - 1727-1842 RN Instructors - 1727-1842RN Engineer 1st Cl. - 1837-1841 RN Engineer 1st Cl. - 1837-1841 RN Engineer 1st Cl. - 1837-1841

In use 1774 - 1860 Var. 01 . . . 1774 - 1787 Var. 02 . . . 1774 - 1787In use 1774 - 1787 In use 1774 - 1787

At first, Pre-1748 most naval buttons consisted of a plain white metal, (Pewter), Post-1748 true designs appeared, such as a rose like device in the centre, etc..

Full Dress - 1748 - 1767 Full Dress - 1748 - 1767G. P. Dress - 1748 - 1783 G. P. Dress - 1748 - 1783

Full & Undress - 1748 - 1787 Full & Undress - 1748 - 1787

In 1774 a fouled anchor, plain edge or surrounded by rope edging, took the place of the Rose and in1787, the same design, with the addition of a wreath of laurel leaves, was adopted for the Admirals.

RN Capt / Commander - 1774

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Royal Navy - Buttons of Rank Page 02

RN Flag Officer - 1787In use 1787 - 1795 RN Lieutenant - 1787-1795 RN Lieutenant - 1787 RN Lieutenant - 1795-1812

In Gilt With this issue a Lieutenant With this issue a Lieutenant Vertical Anchorwill use the same design will use the same design In use 1795 - 1812

as a captains button as a captains buttonIn use 1787 - 1795 In use 1787 - 1795

RN Flag Officer - 1795 RN Flag Officer - 1795 RN Flag Officer - 1795 RN Surgeon - at Sea - 1805 RN Surgeon - at Sea - 1805In use 1795 - 1807 RN Ass' Surgeon - at Sea - 1805 RN Ass' Surgeon - at Sea - 1805

RN Physician - at Sea - 1805 RN Physician - at Sea - 1805Angled Stock Version Straight Stock Version

After this issue a Surgeon After this issue a Surgeonwill use the same design will use the same design

as a captains button as a captains buttonIn use 1805 - 1825 In use 1805 - 1825

RN Surgeon - at Sea - 1805 RN Surgeon - Hospital - 1805 RN Master - 1805 RN Flag Officer - 1807 Govenor RN HospitalsRN Ass' Surgeon - at Sea - 1805 RN Ass'Surgeon - Hospital - 1805 In use 1805 - 1807 In use 1807 - 1812 Lt Gov' RN Hosp' Greenwich

RN Physician - at Sea - 1805 RN Physician - Hospital - 1805 In Gilt Lt Gov' RN CollegesStraight Stock Version RN Mates - Hospital - 1805 In use 1814 - 1828

After this issue a Surgeon etc. RN Dispensers - Hospital - 1805 In Giltwill use the same design After this issue a Surgeon etc.

as a captains button will use the same design In use 1805 - 1825 as a captains button

In use 1805 - 1825

RN Capt / Comm'r - 1787-1795 RN Capt / Commander - 1787 RN Capt / Comm'r - 1795-1812

Var. 02 . . . 1795 - 1807 Var. 01 . . . 1795 - 1807

Note: Anchors to side of stock

When the Merchant Navy started to use the fouled anchor design, a crown was added to all navalofficers buttons, starting in 1812. This same basic design remains in use today.

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Royal Navy - Buttons of Rank Page 03

RN Master - 1807-1825 RN Master - 1807-1825 RN Purser - 1807 RN Purser - 1807 RN Unidentified - 1807RN Ass't Master - 1807-1825 RN Ass't Master - 1807-1825 In use 1807 - 1825 In use 1807 - 1825

RN Volunteer Gr.II - 1824-1825 RN Volunteer Gr.II - 1824-1825 In Gilt In Gilt In GiltIn use 1807 - 1825 In use 1807 - 1825

In Gilt In Gilt

RN Commissioners of RN Commissioners of RN Flag Officer - 1812 RN Flag Officer - 1812Transport - 1810 The Navy - 1810 Left Leaning Stock Left Leaning Stock

RN Govenor RNH & A - 1810 In use 1810 - 1828 In use 1812 - 1827 In use 1812 - 1827(Govenor RN Hospitals and In Gilt

Asylums )In use 1810 - 1828

RN Master - 1812RN Lieutenant - 1812 RN Lieutenant - 1812 RN Lieutenant - 1812 In use 1812 - 1825

RN Midshipman - 1812 RN Midshipman - 1812 RN Midshipman - 1812

RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1812

After this issue a Midshipman After this issue a Midshipman After this issue a Midshipman

will use the same design will use the same design will use the same design

as a captains button as a captains button as a captains button

In use 1812 - 1825 In use 1812 - 1825 In use 1812 - 1825

RN Purser - 1812 RN Petty Officer - 1812In use 1812 - 1825 In use 1812 - 1843 RN Lieutenant - 1825 RN Lieutenant - 1825 RN Lieutenant - 1825

In 1843 the crown changed to RN Midshipman - 1825 RN Midshipman - 1825 RN Midshipman - 1825a the higher arched QVC In use 1825 - 1827 In use 1825 - 1827 In use 1825 - 1827and was used until 1893 Variation Type 1 Variation Type 2

In use 1807 - 1825 ?

Note: Anchors below stock Note: Anchors below stock

RN Capt / Commander - 1812 RN Capt / Commander - 1812 RN Capt / Commander - 1812

RN Capt / Commander - 1825 RN Capt / Commander - 1825 RN Capt / Commander - 1825

Notice no rope border

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Royal Navy - Buttons of Rank Page 04

RN Surgeon - 1825 RN Surgeon - 1825 RN Master - 1825 RN Purser - 1825 RN Navigation Branch - 1825Straight Stock Version Variation 1 After this issue a Master After this issue a Purser In use 1825 - 1832

After this issue a Surgeon After this issue a Surgeon will use the same design will use the same design In Giltwill use the same design will use the same design as a captains button as a captains button

as a captains button as a captains button In use 1825 - 1827 In use 1825 - 1827In use 1825 - 1827 In use 1825 - 1827

RN Medical Branch - 1825 RN Flag Officer - 1827 RN Flag Officer - 1827 RN Govenor RNH & A - 1827In use 1825 - 1832 Right Leaning Stock Right Leaning Stock RN Master - 1832 (Govenor RN Hospitals and

In Gilt In use 1827 - 1843 Var' Nº 2 RN Surgeon - 1832 Asylums )In use 1827 - 1843 RN Purser - 1832 In use 1828 - 1832

In Gilt RN Midshipman - 1832In use 1825 - 1843

Lt Gov' RN Hosp' Greenwich RN Commissioners of RN Flag Officer - 1843 RN Flag Officer - 1843Lt Gov' RN Colleges The Navy - 1828 In use 1843 - 1891 In use 1843 - 1891 RN Master - 1843Right Leaning Stock In use 1828 - 1832 In Gilt In Gilt RN Surgeon - 1843

In use 1828 - 1843 RN Purser - 1843In Gilt RN Midshipman - 1843

RN Warrant Officer - 1843After this issue a Warrant Officer will use the same

design as a captains buttonIn use 1843 - 1891

RN Capt / Commander - 1827

RN Capt / Commander - 1843

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Royal Navy - Buttons of Rank Page 05

RN Petty Officer - 1843 RN Flag Officer - 1891 RN Flag Officer - 1891In use 1843 - 1891 In use 1891 - 1901 In use 1891 - 1901 RN Lietenant - 1891 RN Lietenant - 1891

Notice no rope border In Gilt In Gilt RN Master - 1891 RN Master - 1891No maker's Name RN Surgeon - 1891 RN Surgeon - 1843

RN Purser - 1891 RN Purser - 1891RN Warrant Officer - 1891 RN Warrant Officer - 1891

RN Midshipman - 1891 RN Midshipman - 1891After this issue all officers After this issue all officers

with ranks lower than a captain with ranks lower than a captain

will be referred to as the will be referred to as the

" Other Ship's Officers " " Other Ship's Officers "In use 1891 - 1901 In use 1891 - 1901

RN Petty Officer - 1891 RN Petty Officer - 1891 RN Flag Officer - 1901 RN Flag Officer - 1901In use 1891 - 1901 In use 1891 - 1901 In use 1901 - 1952 In use 1901 - 1953 Other Ship's Officers - 1901

Gilded Brass material Black Bakelite Material In use 1901 - 1952No Maker's Mark on rear

RN Cap't / Commander - 1901 RN Cap't / Commander - 1901 RN Petty Officer - 1901 RN Flag Officer - 1953Other Ship's Officers - 1901 Other Ship's Officers - 1901 In use 1901 - 1952 In use 1952 - Current Other Ship's Officers - 1953

In use 1901 - 1952 Variation Type Other Ship's Officers - 1953In use 1901 - 1952 In use 1952 - Current

Miscellaneous - " Coast Guard "

RN Capt / Commander - 1891 RN Capt / Commander - 1891

RN Capt / Commander - 1901

RN Capt / Commander - 1953

H.M. Coast Guard H.M. Coast Guard H.M. Coast GuardO/R's Button O/R's Button Officer's Button

In use 1770 - 1820 ? In use 1820 - 1836 ? In use 1836 - 1881 ?

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Miscellaneous - " A " Page 06

Admiralty Civil Police R.N.A.S. R.N.A.S. R.N.A.S. R.N.A.V.In use 1940 - 1949

became the Admiralty In use WWI In use WWI In use WWI In use 1873 - 1901Constabulary in 1949 Officers LHS Shldr Button Officers Tunic Button Officers Tunic Button Officers Tunic Button

Officers RHS Shldr Button

Misc' - " A " Cont'd Misc' - " C "

R.N.A.V. Cinque Ports Pilot Cinque Ports Vol's (Artillery) Corps of Sea Fencibles ?

In use 1800 - 1890s ? In use 1837 - 1890s ? ( Coastal Home Guard )In use 1873 - 1901

Officers Tunic Button

Miscellaneous - " Canals " Miscellaneous - " E "

UK - Britain UK - Britain UK - Britain UK - BritainGlaoucester & Berkeley Bridgewater & Taunton

Canal Cº Ltd. Canal Cº Ltd. In use 1841 - 1853 In use 1842 - 1853Canal Operating Staff Canal Operating Staff

In use 1827 - 1980s In use 1827 - 1980s

Miscellaneous - " F " Miscellaneous - " HMS "

RN Air Service RN Air Service RN Air Service RN Artillery Volunteers - 1873

RN Artillery Volunteers - 1873

In use 1798 - 1820 ?

RN Engineer 1st Class RN Engineer 2nd/3rd Class

Fleet Air Arm Fleet Air ArmPilot Officer's Button Observer Officer's Button

In use 1939 - 1952 In use 1939 - 1952

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Miscellaneous - " H " Page 07

RN Half Pay Officer - 1812 RN Half Pay Officer - 1825 RN Half Pay Officer - 1827 RN Half Pay Officer - 1841 RN Her Majesties Colonial Navy( Pre-R.N.R. ) ( Pre-R.N.R. ) ( Pre-R.N.R. ) ( Pre-R.N.R. )

In use 1812 - 1825 In use 1825 - 1827 In use 1827 - 1840 In use 1841 - 1858 In use 1953 - 1960s

Miscellaneous - " HMS "

HMS Idefatigable - RNTS HMS Worcester - TNTC HMS Victory HMS Victory HMS VictorySeaman's Training Ship 2nd Issue Version Unidentified Button Unidentified Button Unidentified Button

In use 1914 - 1941 Thames Naut' Train' College In use 1806 - 1812 ? Adm' Lord Horatio Nelson In use 1837 - 1901 ?RN/MN Officers Train' Ship 8/1/1797 - Battle of the Nile

In use 1900 - 1980s In use 1797 - 1798

Miscellaneous - " HMTS "

H.M.T.S. HMTS Conway HMTS Conway HMS Worcester - TNTC HMS Victory

Her Majesties Training Ship RN/MN Officers Train' Ship RN/MN Officers Train' Ship 2nd Issue Version Unidentified ButtonIn use 1837 - 1880s Made - Sallors Home, L'pool Made - Sallors Home, L'pool Thames Naut' Train' College

In use 1880 - 1900 RN/MN Officers Train' ShipIn use 1900 - 1980s

Misc' - " G "

In use 1806 - 1812 ?In use 1901 - 1974 ?

RN Greenwich Hospital RN Greenwich Hospital RN Greenwich Hospital Service RN Greenwich Hospital Service RN Greenwich Hospital

O/R's Hospital Staff Tunic O/R's Hospital Staff Tunic Officer's Hospital Staff Tunic Officer's Hospital Staff Tunic O/R's Hospital Staff TunicButton - ( H. G. Error ) Button - ( Error Corrected ) Button Button Button

In use 1800 - 1814 In use 1800 - 1814 In use 1800 - 1815 In use 1814 - 1868 In use 1814 - 1869

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Misc' - " G " Page 08

RN Greenwich Nautical

Instructor's Button

Miscellaneous - " Lighthouses "

Trinity House Trinity House Trinity House Trinity HouseUK Lighthouse Authoruty UK Lighthouse Authoruty UK Lighthouse Authoruty UK Lighthouse AuthorutyElder Bretheren's Button Elder Bretheren's Button Pilot's Tunic Button General Employee

In use 1900 - 1980s ? In use 1900 - 1980s ? In use 1900 - 1930s In use 1930 - 1960s ?"Trinitas in Unitate" "Trinitas in Unitate" "Trinity House Pilot" "Trinitas in Unitate"

Misc' - " L "

London River Sea Fencibles( Coastal Home Guard )

Misc' - " M "

Training College ?

In use 1939 - 1945 ?

In use 1798 - 1820 ?

RN Mufti Jacket - 1850( Civilian Jacket )

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Misc' - " N " Page 09

RN Naval Articifers Association

Miscellaneous - " P "

RN Prison - Bodmin RN Prison - Lewes RN Prison - LewesIn use 1899 - 1951 Prison Officer's Tunic Button Prison Officer's Tunic Button Prison Officer's Tunic Button

Similar to MN Button In use 1902-1927 In use 1837-1901 In use 1902-1927

Miscellaneous - " RFA "

RN - R.F.A.

In use 1953 - Current

Miscellaneous - " R.M. " Miscellaneous - " R.M.A. "

In use 1850 - 1881 ?

In use 1850 - 1881 ?

RN Polo Assoc

RN - Royal Fleet Auxiliary

ROYAL MARINES ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERYThis button dates 1833 - 1881 This button dates 1837 - 1901 This button dates 1912 - 1922

Maker = Chas Jennings, Lon.

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Miscellaneous - " RNH " Page 10

RN - R.N.H. RN - R.N.H. RN - R.N.H. RN - R.N.H.RN - Royal Navy Hospitals RN - Royal Navy Hospitals RN - Royal Navy Hospitals RN - Royal Navy Hospitals

O/R's Tunic Button Officer's Tunic Buttons O/R's Tunic Button Officer's Tunic ButtonsIn use 1820 - 1849 In use 1850 - 1901 In use 1902 - 1952 ? In use 1902 - 1952 ?

Miscellaneous - " RNPS "

RN - Packet Service RN - Packet Service RN - Packet Service RN - Packet Service RN - Packet Service( Mail & Supplies Delivery ) ( Mail & Supplies Delivery ) ( Mail & Supplies Delivery ) ( Mail & Supplies Delivery ) ( Mail & Supplies Delivery )

In use 1800 - 1818 ? In use 1818 - 1829 ? In use 1830 - 1836 ? In use 1837 - 1852 ? In use 1837 - 1852 ?

Miscellaneous - " RNR "

RN - R.N.R. RN - R.N.R. RN - R.N.R.RN - Royal Navy Reserve RN - Royal Navy Reserve RN - Royal Navy Reserve

In use 1859 - 1901 In use 1902 - 1952 In use 1953 - Current

Miscellaneous - " RNSC "

R.N.V.R.RN - Staff College

( Instructor )Made by - Gaunt, London

In use 1940 - 1998

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Miscellaneous - " RNVR " Page 11

R.N.V.R. R.N.V.R.Royal Naval Volunteers Royal Naval Volunteers

( Reserve ) ( Reserve )In use 1901 - 1952 In use 1901 - 1952

Miscellaneous - " RNVR "

R.N.V.R. R.N.V.R.Royal Naval Volunteers Royal Naval Volunteers

( Reserve ) ( Reserve )In use 1901 - 1952 In use 1901 - 1952

Miscellaneous - " S " Miscellaneous - " T "

R.N.S.C.S. R.N. Training Unit ?R.N. 7th Cruiser Squadron

North Sea - Cr' Force "C"In use 1914 - 1918

Miscellaneous - " w "

UK - BritainWar Office Steam Packet Cº

Renamed Bristol S.N.CºIn use 1821 - 1836

Buttons of the UK's Royal Navy & Misc.Miscellaneous - " Wireles & Telegraph " Page 12

UK - BritainPost Office - TelegraphShip's Telegraph Officer

In use 1912 - 1950s

In use 1901 - 1952 ?