Need ID help in Saskatchewan please

[upnorth]

Hi all. I'm a metal detectorist with an interest in history/historical artefacts. I"ve found many items but these two recent finds need some ID help. Actually only the button is new, I found the belt clasp a few months ago. The belt clasp was near a North West Mounted Police barracks in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Same city for the uniform button, but it was found by the river close to the downtown core. I believe that the button reads " Prince of Wales Own", "West Yorkshire", and above the lion is "Indian", below the lion reads "Waterloo". I'm wondering that date of both objects and their origins. I'm also wondering if the uniform button came from The Can. militia or army during the Riel rebellion/resistance of 1885. I know that some regiments were in Prince Albert temporarily in 1885. Any confirmed emperical evidence is appreciated. Thanks.

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[DavidB]

Can't see any images mate, there must be some syntax error in your photobucket links.
I'll have a play, see if I can get it.

[DavidB]

Cracked it (fingers crossed)

[DavidB]

The button offers more immediate clues.
The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire) Regt weren't so called until the reforms of 1881.
Before that they were the 14th Buckinghamshire Regt, so a complete change of name.
So the button can't be any earlier than 1881, which at least fits in with your 1885 theory.

The "lion" in the centre is in fact an Indian tiger
They were awarded the Royal Tiger badge superscribed India in 1838 for services in 1807-33 on the subcontinent.
They also had the battle honour for Waterloo.

[upnorth]

Thanks for the help buddy. Do you know anything about the belt clasp?, or is it a fairly generic turn of the century piece?

[Waggoner]

upnorth,

The partial belt fastener looks to be a generic "snake" type that was used by many organizations during the late 1800s/early 1900s. It could be a militia piece, or police, or NWMP [?].

All the best,

Gary