Basic Information
The basics
A collection of five small variation British Army gilded brass buttons for the General Service Corps, consisting of gilded brass and are, apart from two of the buttons, complete with maker marks.
These manufacturer marks are for Morton & Crowder Ltd of Birmingham.
The emblem depicts a lion and a unicorns either side of a quartered shield. The shield bears three lions in the first and fourth quarter, representing England, a lion with a double tressure flory-counterflory representing Scotland in the second quarter and an Irish harp in the third quarter.
This is surrounded by a garter belt, adorned with the Anglo-Norman motto of the Order of the Garter "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" or "Shame on him who think evil of it". A scroll at the bottom reads the French motto "DIEU ET MON DROIT" - the motto of the English monarch meaning "God and my Right". The emblem is surmounted by a Tudor crown.
Item Condition
So you know what to expect
Varying condition, although overall the buttons are in fine vintage condition albeit with some wear as expected of items from the period. The buttons are a good match for the most part, although there are some slight differences between the buttons, such as colour and brightness etc.
There is some degree of mild patina, marks and oxidation present on the buttons. Some buttons have more of this than others. However none of this is too major or compromising.
There is also a degree of fading and wear on some of the finer details in some of the emblems in the buttons. Overall, fine vintage condition.
Item Date
Timeline origin
Approx. WWII, possibly slightly before or after. This is only a rough estimate. Dates may also differ between each button.
Historical and Contextual Information
For your own interest
These would have been worn by British Army personnel as a part of their uniform.
The General Service Corps operates as a holding unit for various specialists within the British Army who have not been assigned to another unit and is still active today.
In WWI, specialist officers not yet assigned to a unit wore a similar cap badge as later worn by the GSC and were recorded on the "General List". However the corps would only be officially established in 1942. During WWII, the GSC often included personnel from the SOE, or Special Operations Executive.
Notable personnel include Thomas Edward Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and Walter Freud - a grandson of Sigmund Freud and a chemical engineer who would leave Vienna and later join the Royal Pioneer Corps. He would then serve in the SOE and the War Crimes Investigation Unit.