79th (QO Cameron Highlanders) Victorian NCO's or Piper's plaid brooch

A scarce pre-1881 solid cast and chased in nickel-plated brass metal, a continuous high relief wreath of thistles and leaves with, mounted upon the voided centre, the Sphinx upon a tablet bearing the numeral LXXIX below a scroll bearing the battle honour PENINSULA and above a scroll bearing the battle honour WATERLOO; transverse a stout steel pin brooch fitting upon the reverse (tip of pin below barrel possibly truncated); Minor wear to plated finish on highpoints otherwise in very good condition. Circa 71mm in diameter. It has a 'hard-to-read' feint stamp mark of a "QVC crown / SJM / II" in three lines to the reverse (I have left a paper sticker to reverse to aid deciphering the stamp). Probably an abbreviation standing for 'Serjeant's Mess, No 2' rather than a maker's mark. I have seen post 1881 patterns with engraving to the reverse with "Property of the Serjeant's Mess".

Plaid brooches of this style seem to have been adopted by the 79th in the 1840s and would have been worn until 1881. This is either an NCO or Piper's issue.

Please note I am unable to post this item overseas at the moment (Royal Mail Cyber attack).

Comm GM

Code: 65611