Found in Betchworth, Surrey, this brass button dates from the late 18th century and belonged to the Royal Artillery. It displays three cannons within a shield above three stacks of cannon balls, a design used on artillery buttons between 1790 and 1801. Such buttons were part of the standard military uniform, helping to identify regiments and their role within the British Army.
Military buttons are common finds for detectorists, yet each carries a direct connection to the soldier who once wore it. They often survive long after the rest of the uniform has perished, making them powerful symbols of individual service.
The soldier who lost this button may have been contemporary with the construction of the nearby Box Hill Fort, one of a line of defensive positions built in Surrey during the late 18th century to counter the threat of French invasion. Read more about the Box Hill fort and its history.
This small artefact offers a tangible link to a period when Surrey stood at the heart of Britain’s preparations for war, reminding us of the men who served during those uncertain times.