Q.V.C 16th The Queens Lancers large 25mm button by rare maker, worn circa 1861-1902.

Q.V.C 16th The Queens Lancers large 25mm button by rare maker, worn circa 1861-1902.

The backmark reads "F.A. STONE · M.T. 16TH LANCERS". "M.T." almost certainly stands for Master Tailor, which would make this a regimental tailor's button rather than one from a big button firm like Firmin or Jennens. 

The firm itself is confirmed as a 16th Lancers supplier. A First World War officer's service dress cap of the 16th Lancers survives with the maker's mark "F.A.Stone & Sons" stamped in the crown. So Stone was tied to the regiment for decades and was still trading as "& Sons" by WW1. 

What the regiment did, 1861 to 1902

• 1861: The title changed to the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers, and the regiment spent the next four decades either at home or on long postings to India.
• 1865 to 1876: First Indian tour. A memorial in Bangalore commemorates men of the regiment who died in India between 1865 and 1876.
• 1890 to 1899: Second Indian tour, with stations at Lucknow in 1890 and Umballa in 1897, plus North West Frontier service in 1897.
• Boer War: The regiment landed in Cape Colony in January 1900, and served with 3rd Cavalry Brigade until 1902, taking part in the Relief of Kimberley and the Battle of Paardeberg in 1900.
• Uniform note: they were the odd ones out among lancers. Other lancer tunics were blue, but the 16th wore scarlet, hence their nickname "The Scarlet Lancers”.