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The version of the British soldier’s button from World War I that features a lion and a unicorn is associated with the General Service button, rather than any specific regiment. This button displayed the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom: a crowned shield flanked by a lion on the left and a unicorn on the right. The shield itself was quartered with the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the entire design symbolized the authority of the British monarch over the United Kingdom and its empire. Soldiers who were not assigned to a particular regiment or who were serving in non-regimental roles—such as administrative, training, or depot duties—wore uniforms with these General Service buttons.
The lion and unicorn imagery, drawn from centuries-old heraldic tradition, was meant to reflect unity, strength, and royal legitimacy. The lion represented England and power, while the unicorn, a symbol of Scotland, signified purity and strength restrained by a chain. To a soldier wearing such a button, the design connected his service directly to the broader ideals of the Empire and the Crown, rather than to a localized regimental history. These buttons were made of brass and required just as much polishing and care as any regimental button. After the war, General Service buttons, like regimental ones, were often kept as souvenirs by veterans or found their way into collections. Because they are tied to the general army rather than a specific unit, they are among the more commonly encountered British military buttons from the First World War today.
