BRITISH ROYAL NAVY        UNIFORMS FOR OFFICERS

JACKET BUTTONS (1)

Photo (placeholder shall soon be replaced by a wartime image from our archives) showing a British Royal Naval Officer. Below one can see what the buttons on such jackets looked like.

Brass buttons featuring a fouled anchor surmounted by a British Royal Crown first made their appearance in 1812 and the same basic design remains in use today. Queen Victoria's death in 1901 brought a change of crown to what is known as a Tudor or Imperial Crown (aka King's Crown). This was in turn substituted by the St. Edward Crown, upon the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and is still current issue. The standard diameter for these buttons is 24mm

The roped edge is what distinguishes the buttons from those used by other ranks, or ratings as they are known in the Royal Navy. Sailors constitute junior, while Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers are Senior Ratings. Unlike the Officers' pattern, all Ratings' buttons have plain edges. Officers' buttons are usually gilt finished.

                           OFFICERS PATTERN                  RATINGS                                        ROPED EDGE                      PLAIN EDGE       

The buttons were affixed to the Jacket from a fixed metal loop to rear. However there were other types having a receding loop or no loop at all. The latter had four holes in the back from which to be woven onto the uniform. The reason for these varieties was due to the type of jacket in use and relative location of the buttons. Examples of such use shall be uploaded at a later stage. 

FIXED LOOP                        NO LOOP                  RECEDING LOOP

A large number of manufacturers were commissioned to produce these buttons, the origins of which may be traced from the maker's marks found on the reverse. Collectors usually refer to these details as backmarks.

Further research is required to determine whether any of these buttons are from World War I rather than WWII, since the same crown was in use through 1901-1953. It is not always possible to date such buttons with precision due to the quantities made and unchanging design. The best clue is the different backmark details and style, which was altered from time to time. It may also be possible to differentiate between different dyes used by any one firm over time, resulting in oft minute changes of the obverse design.

The selection below consists of buttons having a fixed loop. Click the individual buttons to see variations by the same maker, images of the reverse side, and details about the manufacturing brand.

J. BAKER, PORTSMOUTH      BUTTONS LTD, B'HAM           FIRMIN, LONDON

 J. FRIEDEBERG, PORTSEA    J.R.GAUNT & SON, LONDON       GIEVES LTD

OWEN HARRIES, PORTSMITH    A.H. HASTINGS, CHATHAM          KENNING, LONDON

Click on the respective images / links below to view more officers' buttons with receding or without loops, or to go to the Other Ranks' Button Section

RECEDING LOOP TYPE & NO-LOOP TYPE           OTHER RANKS

OR GO BACK TO OUR

R.N. UNIFORMS & INSIGNIA PAGE