Scarce Kolar Gold Field Battalion Officers Buttons

A scarce pair of buttons, the gilt button is the medium pattern version and 19mm in diameter, with fixed shank and back-marked J R Gaunt & Son Ltd, London and the other is a very fine mess dress silver and gilt button (15mm in diameter) with maker marks for both Gaunt and Jennens (transitional period between the two manufacturers when the former acquired the latter).

The badge on the buttons is a crossed pickaxe and hammer in circle superscribed "Kolar Gold Field Bn", all surmounted by a crown (Cox's book p2723 refers).

The Kolar Gold Fields are believed to be the second deepest gold mines in the world. Situated at a distance of approximately 120km from Bangalore.

The Auxiliary Force (India) (AFI) was a part-time, paid volunteer organisation within the Indian Army in British India. Its units were entirely made up of European and Anglo-Indian personnel.

The AFI was created by the Auxiliary Force Act 1920 to replace the unpopular British section of the Indian Defence Force, which had recruited by conscription. By contrast, the AFI was an all-volunteer force modelled after the British Territorial Army.

Unit history: 1903 formed as the Kolar Gold Fields Rifle Volunteers on 23rd January from a detachment of the Bangalore Rifle Volunteers
1917 became 43rd Kolar Gold Fields Battalion on 1st April
1920 redesignated on 1st October as the Kolar Gold Field Battalion (Infantry).

Please also see the regimental spoon I am selling to this unit as item number 50675, a large officer's pagri badge as item number 51527 and a collar badge as 51901.

Code: 52059