QVC The 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot ORs button.

QVC The 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment of Foot ORs 25mm button.

The dragon on this button tells a great story. During the First Opium War in 1841, a Lieutenant Butler of the 55th captured an Imperial Dragon standard at Chusan — the only such Chinese imperial standard taken during the entire conflict. In recognition of their service, the regiment was awarded the right to add a dragon badge inscribed “China” to their colours. That honour was granted on 12th January 1843 , and the dragon appeared on their badges from that point on.
The dragon carried all the way through to the Border Regiment, formed in 1881, where it sat at the centre of their cap badge.
The back mark reads “London & Birmingham” — that’s almost certainly Jennens & Co., one of the major 19th-century button makers operating across both cities. That helps date this button to the post-1843 period when the dragon badge was authorised.