1st Life Guards officer’s button (King’s Crown, 1901–1922 pattern), 27mm, original example of British Household Cavalry officer’s uniform insignia associated with the 1st Life Guards.
Manufactured in gilt metal to officer quality, this 27mm uniform button bears the distinctive regimental device of the 1st Life Guards surmounted by the King’s Crown, identifying it as the pattern worn between 1901 and 1922 during the reigns of Edward VII and George V. Privately purchased by officers, buttons of this quality were manufactured to a superior standard, featuring finely struck detail and a rich gilt finish.
The 1st Life Guards was one of the most senior regiments in the British Army, tracing its origins to 1660 when it was raised as part of the mounted escort of Charles II following the Restoration. As a regiment of the Household Cavalry, it fulfilled the dual role of serving as the Sovereign’s personal bodyguard while also maintaining operational readiness for active military service.
During the period in which this button was worn, officers of the regiment served in the Second Boer War and the First World War. Although renowned for their ceremonial duties, the regiment saw extensive active service, with officers leading cavalry charges in the early stages of the war before adapting to trench warfare and serving both mounted and dismounted on the Western Front.
In 1922, the 1st Life Guards amalgamated with the 2nd Life Guards to form The Life Guards, which continues today as the senior regiment of the Household Cavalry. Officer-quality buttons from the independent 1st Life Guards are consequently scarce and highly desirable, reflecting both the prestige of the regiment and the limited production of privately purchased officer insignia.
Original officer’s buttons of this pattern are particularly sought after by collectors of Household Cavalry memorabilia, British officer’s uniforms, and Edwardian and First World War military insignia.
Manufactured in gilt metal and retaining its original reverse shank fitting, this example represents an authentic and collectable piece of British Household Cavalry history.
Dimensions
27mm diameter
Condition
Good overall original condition, with little to no gilt remaining. The original reverse shank remains intact and secure. No significant damage or repairs evident unless otherwise noted.
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