24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regt. of Foot, officer’s 25mm gilt, 1855-1881

An excellent officer’s 25mm button of the 24th (2nd Waewickshireshire) Regiment of Foot with the backmark J. W. REYNOLDS & Co. 50 ST MARTINS LANE, LONDON. This is the pattern worn from 1855 until 1881 when the 24th became the 1st & 2nd Bns. The South Wales Borderers. The original gilt finish appears remains virtually complete. This button is notoriously hard to find. I cannot imagine this is entirely becauise of the enormously successful film Zulu but I recall an example selling for over £200 several years ago. This example was in my personal collection but I have cut it back recently to a large extent. jan4/2  SOLD 5th December 2026

Personal note: I took decades to complete a set of the 109 line infantry buttons and this was the last but one. The last of all was the 41st and I’m not sure way that should be so difficult to find. Athough this 24th button is the pattern worn at the time of the South African War of the 1870s by officers, the film mentioned above describes it then as the \South Wales Borderers. Despite that error I recall in the 1960s dining in the Brigade mess at Cwrt-y-Gollen in Powys and noting all the Victoria Crosses around the walls.