This button (2.3cm) is marked on the reverse 'J.GIEVE & SONS PORTSMOUTH'. Trading under this designation from 1896 to 1903. As Queen Victoria died in 1901, this button would have been produced in a fairly short span of years at the end of the 19th century.

The Royal Engineers were responsible for bridge/road building, mine fields, their laying and clearance, etc. These brooches would have been worn by women on their handbags and lapels to commemorate the service of their men in the field, a tradition which started in the Boer War.

This little button (2.6cm) is of two-piece construction with a face plate, originally gilt, folded over a backplate with the maker's name, 'WOODROW & CO. LONDON'. The image is that of the Paschal Lamb as stipulated by the 1900 Dress Regulations for the officers mess waistcoat and field cap.

This regiment, raised in 1914 as the 43rd Infantry Battalion, also known as the Cameron Highlanders, served with great distinction on the Western Front in WW1 and one of the officers was awarded a VC in 1917. This is almost certainly an other ranks button by virtue of its construction and lack of any gilt finish.

This document (21 x 14.75cm) commemorates the fighting in the new year/spring of 1942 to notify this NCO that he had been awarded the VK2 with swords. It appears to be personally signed by Generaloberst von Kleist, commander of 1st Panzerarmee. It is franked with the headquarters seal for the 1st Panzerarmee.

This is typical of what the Danish officers would have worn at the time of the war with Austria and Prussia in 1864 when these two attacked Denmark to secure Schleswig-Holstein to their respective countries. Denmark put up a very good fight considering that the odds were so unequal, but in the end had to yield.

I think this is a badge (13.5 x 9.5cm) off an undress sabretache, ie plain leather, possibly at the time of Johann, King of Saxony (hence JR), 1854-73. It may be an unfinished piece, inasmuch as there are no fixing points on the reverse. It would appear to be a cast bronze, hand finished badge.

This is a particularly fine die-struck gilt badge (4 x 4.5cm), possibly fire gilt (as opposed to electro-gilt), with the coat of arms of Dubin in the centre, backed by the sword and scales of justice and a civic mace, topped by the burgher's crown. A court official (eg the Tipstaff of the Court) would have worn this.

This is clearly a European made badge (8cm tip of spear to bottom); in view of the provenance (see below), almost certainly by Gaunt's of London. The crossed rifles would appear to represent a pair of Martini-Henrys, so it's no surprise that, if they were buying Martinis from the British, their military badges were being made in London as well.

Clearly European made, this badge (8cm tip of spear to bottom) is almost certainly by Gaunt's of London, in view of the provenance (see below). The crossed rifles would appear to represent a pair of Martini-Henrys, so it's no surprise that, if they were buying Martinis from the British, their military badges were being made in London as well.