101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) officers button.

This is a 25mm gilt brass officer’s tunic button made by JENNENS for the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers). The design shows the classic fusilier grenade (burning bomb) with the regimental number 101 on the ball, surrounded by the legend ROYAL BENGAL FUSILIERS. This is exactly the pattern used by the regiment during its existence as a British Army unit.
Regimental history
The 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) existed as a British Army regiment from 1862 to 1881, with origins in the Bengal Army going back to 1652. It was transferred to the British Army and renumbered as the 101st Regiment of Foot in 1861/1862, retaining the Royal Bengal name. In 1881 it was combined with the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers) to form the Royal Munster Fusiliers. This means buttons with the 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers designation can only date from 1862 to 1881.