Gosh my fields throw up lots of weird, often foreign, stuff!

[Oxgirl]

I have a new permission I’m just starting to read it after 3 trips and so it’s starting to share it’s finds. Nothing amazing yet but I can smell there’s more. The oldest find so far is this stop end. A slightly different one than the usual (and my second in 3 months).



There’s lots of bullets snd other ammunition left over from an American base situated nearby. Getting through that lot is hard work. But there was a public foot and the line of it is littered with 18-19th century coins, sadly mainly in very poor condition. I found one of the coins is From Holland though - an 18th century duit. I’ve included a picture of one in much better condition so you can see what it looked like.

Plus a crotal bell, sadly smashed by the plough.

And a stud type thing with a horse and rider depicted on the top. It’s modern - 19th or 20th century?

Following the foreign theme, the following week I was on one of my old permissions and it gave me this nice ‘Australian military Force’ button. In great condition as I think it’s a WWI type? Can anyone confirm?

I guess it shows you’ll never know what the fields will throw at you, or from where!

[Steve_JT]

Shape of the crown gives the ruling monarch of the time I believe on military buttons
Can’t remember where I saw that info, but will have a look around

Nice eclectic collection
Regards Steve

[Saffron]

A nice mixture of finds.

Steve is right the crown can be a guide with military buttons (although I am not certain this also applies to Australian ones but suspect it does).

However, I would be willing to have a good bet on WWI.
WWI was a mainly "European War" and large numbers of Australian forces were based in the UK before going to the Western Front (and other areas such as Egypt). Many of these had only emigrated from the UK to Australia a few years previously (including one from my village, who having recently settled in Australia volunteered and served with the Australian 4th Light Horse in Egypt, then was sadly killed on the Western Front just before the end of the war).
WWII was a much more "Global War" and there was a danger of Japan invading Australia, so Australian forces were much more involved in defending the homeland and fighting in Asia and the Pacific Theatre, with less in the UK.

Evan

[Saffron]

For anything relating to military badges this is a fantastic site http://www.kellybadge.co.uk

This is the item I was thinking about regarding crowns on military badges (and buttons). http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/beginner.htm#Crowns

This applies to the crowns on badges (and buttons) from the time of Queen Victoria to the present. Sadly they do not identify the individual Kings, between Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. The 3 crowns are -
Queen Victoria's Crown indicates pre-1901.
King's Crown indicates 1901-1952 ....... which this one is.
Queen's Crown is post-1952.

Evan

[Oxgirl]

So it looks like it could be from WWI or WWII on the dates for the crown. Pleased it’s more likely to be WWI though, thanks Saffron

[Oxgirl]

Forgot to add a photo of the stop end! Here you go

[Dave The Slave]

Hi Cath,
Gleaned this snippet for you, still not definitive age wise.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL37605/
Accession Number REL37605
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Button
Physical description Oxidised metal
Maker Stokes & Sons, Melbourne
Date made c 1914
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
First World War, 1914-1918
Description
Domed oxidised metal button showing a raised emblem of Australia surmounted by the King's Crown. Encircling Australia is 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES'. The back of the button has two holes opposing each other and a shank centrally located. Surrounding this is a stamped makers name ‘STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE’.

History / Summary
Worn on the Australian Uniform during the First and Second World Wars

Not much help, you may need to do some delving, to see if the Aussies were in your area during both conflicts.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Oxgirl]

Hi Cath,
Gleaned this snippet for you, still not definitive age wise.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL37605/
Accession Number REL37605
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Button
Physical description Oxidised metal
Maker Stokes & Sons, Melbourne
Date made c 1914
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
First World War, 1914-1918
Description
Domed oxidised metal button showing a raised emblem of Australia surmounted by the King's Crown. Encircling Australia is 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES'. The back of the button has two holes opposing each other and a shank centrally located. Surrounding this is a stamped makers name ‘STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE’.

History / Summary
Worn on the Australian Uniform during the First and Second World Wars

Not much help, you may need to do some delving, to see if the Aussies were in your area during both conflicts.
Cheers,
Dave.

Thanks Dave, great information

[Saffron]

So it looks like it could be from WWI or WWII on the dates for the crown. Pleased it’s more likely to be WWI though, thanks Saffron

Glad to help. You know I like the odd bet, which obviously I prefer to win , so would be fairly confident about the WWI.

Are you able to read the back of the button?, I was not convinced that it was "Stokes and son", for the UK we have the fantastic http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/pages/button-makers.html site for button backmarks and I wonder if there is anything like it for the Australian makers that might narrow down the date range.

IF it is Stokes and sons this is fascinating and detailed article https://collections.museumsvictoria.com ... icles/2475

Due to researching the Australian soldier that was born in my village I have used the Australian military records a fair bit and the online records are very good, so would not be surprised if between them and your local records if you were able to find out a unit.

Evan

[Saffron]

Here is all anybody ever needs to know about Australian buttons !!

http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/


All the information about that Australian Military Forces button is here
http://www.austbuttonhistory.com/defenc ... /1901-ww2/


Evan

[Oxgirl]

Great linksEvan. Sadly still confused on dating but I can read the back in part - it says ‘Established’ followed by a date (I think) but that bit is very worn.

[Saffron]

Drat, I could only work out "Established" as well. What a shame we can not work out the important bit, the date

Evan