Black buttons and badges date back to around the Napoleonic era when the first "Rifle" companies were formed. Groups like Rogers' New York Rangers wore dark green and black uniforms to blend into the forests of North America. In open territory at close range with musket ranges of only a few hundred yards a man is visible to all in any light so shiny badges and red coats were a not problem. However in the forest camouflage helped. By the time of the Boer War with long range Lee-Enfield/Lee-Metford/Mauser rifles capable of killing at distances of well over a mile shiny badges and red coats were no longer appropriate. Any movement made you a target of a sniper. Since the Boers often fought in civilian clothes they also had an advantage in that they could hide their weapons and walk over to the nearest cow and claim they were simple farmers. Hence the often brutal retributions of the British towards captured prisoners. A problem that has continued in all modern warfare - who is the enemy and who is the civilian population? Nelson Denton --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.483 / Virus Database: 279 - Release Date: 19-May-03