Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) gilt button (Queen’s Crown), 23.5mm, original example of British naval uniform insignia associated with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Manufactured in gilt metal, this 23.5mm uniform button bears the distinctive badge of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary surmounted by the St Edward’s Crown (Queen’s Crown), identifying it as the pattern worn during the reign of Elizabeth II between 1953 and 2022. Buttons of this size were worn on officers’ and senior ratings’ uniforms, including service dress and ceremonial attire.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary was established in 1905 to provide the Royal Navy with a permanent fleet of civilian-manned support vessels capable of supplying warships with fuel, ammunition, food, stores, and other essential provisions while at sea. Operated by civilian merchant seafarers under the operational control of the Royal Navy, the RFA enables naval task groups to remain deployed worldwide without returning to port for replenishment.
Throughout the Queen’s Crown period, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary played a vital role in supporting British naval operations across the globe. RFA vessels were heavily involved during the Falklands War, providing indispensable replenishment and logistical support to the Royal Navy’s Task Force operating in the South Atlantic. They also supported operations during the Gulf conflicts, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan, anti-piracy patrols, humanitarian relief missions, and numerous NATO and coalition deployments.
The Queen’s Crown pattern remained in use until the accession of Charles III in 2022, when British military and associated organisations began adopting insignia bearing the Tudor Crown. As such, this button represents the final Elizabeth II pattern worn by members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary during nearly seventy years of service.
Original Royal Fleet Auxiliary buttons are highly sought after by collectors of British naval insignia, merchant navy memorabilia, and maritime uniform accessories due to their quality manufacture and association with the organisation that has provided essential logistical support to the Royal Navy for over a century.
Manufactured in gilt metal and retaining its original reverse shank fitting, this example represents an authentic and collectable piece of British maritime history.
Dimensions
23.5mm diameter
Condition
Good overall original condition, with crisp detailing and a well-preserved gilt finish. Light age-related wear, minor surface marks, and signs of uniform use or storage may be present. The original reverse shank remains intact and secure. No significant damage or repairs evident.
