This rectangular shoulder belt plate can clearly be seen in the portrait of Fox Maule who joined the 79th Cameron Highlanders in 1819. It is gilt and silver and includes the battle honours gained in the Peninsula war. At the top, from the left, EGMONT OP ZEE, WATERLOO and FUENTES D’ONOR. At the base are SALAMANCA and TOULOUSE on the left, PENINSULA and PYRENEES in the centre, and NIVELLE and NIVE on the right. The Sphinx & EGYPT are in the space above the silver Star of the Order of the Thistle. The motto NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT surrounds the Thistle in the centre. This plate can also be seen on the uniform worn by an officer of the 79th in the Spooner print of 1833. Most of the Peninsula honours were awarded in 1818 as well as Egmont-op-Zee. Corunna was awarded retrospectively at a later date.
Parkyn’s book on Shoulder-Belt Plates and Buttons describes a different plate worn earlier:
‘In Mr G. Pompa’s collection a gilt burnished oblong plate with the design in silver of ’79’ within a spray of thistle, below the number the word ‘OR’, the whole within a crowned garter inscribed ‘Cameron Highlanders’. Mr Pompa dates the plate as prior to 1820.’
