At the allotted time and place a small group from our unit waited with baited breath for the arrival of the button. Before our friend had walked through the door he was accosted, and the small box which contained the button was removed from his person and placed on a table, and everyone gathered round. A silence came over all there, mouths were open (some dribbling); the air was filled with excited anticipation as the lid was removed and the button revealed. Amidst the gasps and awe the first words were spoken “It’s a bit small ain’t it.” Then the great fondling began. Armed with magnifying glasses we peered and stared at the button and after a short while we all agreed that this indeed was a 95th Button. But we needed this to be confirmed by an outside source.  

As already mentioned the regulations stated that the ordinary ranks button is “ a domed button much raised in the centre with a bugle horn and crown on it”. The button matched this description but also had the 95 in between the bugle horn cords. On the back was written Firmin and Westell. This was the maker’s name, and Firmin is still producing buttons for the military today. The button was cast from pewter with a steel ring cast into the back for fixing. We contacted Firmin with regards the 95th button. At first all they could tell us is that they did produce a button for the 95th but their archives for this button have been lost. When we told them that there was another name on the back as well (Westell) they could then date this button with confidence, as the partnership between Firmin & Westell only existed from about 1800 till about 1811. So this places our button in the right time period, as all three 95th battalions were established between 1802 – 1806.  

Being well pleased with our find, we were then shocked to find out that another button had been recently found, but this time found in Spain. Again the owner of the second button was also a friend of ours and soon we had our grubby mitts all over it. Although the second button was more worn than the first it was identical in every respect.  The finding of the second button in Spain confirms the fact these were the buttons used by the 95th Rifles both at home and on campaign.

Our next step was to reproduce the button. Both originals were unsuitable to make a mould from due to corrosion and wear, so a master copy had to be made from which a mould could be taken. Detailed photos and dimensions were taken from the first button and were fed into a CNC program and a wax master was machined, this was finished off by hand. From this wax master and using the lost wax casting method, a silver master was cast. From this silver master the final mould will be produced. The only change to the button we have made is replacing the steel ring with a cast one; this has been done for the ease of production and to keep the cost down. So now that we have the replica button in production, we along with the other 95th units will be spending a few happy hours replacing our plain buttons with 48 of the new 95th ones. We also hope to re-place our shako badges with new ones based on the markings on the button.