10th Madras Regiment, officer’s early 21mm coatee button

A scarce example of an officer’s gilt button of the 10th Madras Infantry of the 21mm largest size worn on the coatee. The open backed button shows the wording TENTH REGT with the battle honours ASSAYE & AMBOOR on a circlet around the Assaye elephant, all beneath a Georgian crown. It is likely that this button was worn soon after the great victory at Assaye [Major General Arthur Wellesley’s first great success in the 2nd Mahratta War of 1803-4]. The 10th was one of only four Madras Native Infantry Regiments which took part in the attack, the others being the 2nd, 4th, & 12th. The button retains traces of the original gilding.   jul16/4

It is not always easy to date early Indian buttons but it is most likely this was worn soon after the 1803 battle. This is the last example I have of this button having acquired several some years ago. I doubt I will ever see anyothers than than the large and small examples in my own collection.