Officer's Shoulder Belt Plate 1845-55


The plate is burnished gilt with a cut silver star. Mounted on the star is a gilt Maltese cross superimposed on a laurel wreath. Small lions can be seen between the arms of the cross. The arms bear the battle honours of the 34th; top arm PENINSULA, right arm VITTORIA ORTHES, lower arm NIVELLE ALBUHERA, left arm PYRENEES NIVE. The first battle honour, Peninsula was awarded to them on 29th March 1815. Albuhera and Vittoria were awarded in 1817. The other 4 were given on 16th August 1823. One more battle honour was awarded much later, for ARROYO DOS MOLINOS fought on 28th October 1811, but awarded on 30th May 1845. This honour is special because it is unique to the 34th, and so it was displayed on a tri-part scroll beneath the cross.

The plate was gilt as from 1830 when the uniforms of officers changed from silver to gold lace. Before that they had a silver plate with a gilt badge. The laurel wreath was in memory of the battle of Fontenoy. The silver number 34 in the middle is encircled with the words CUMBERLAND REGT the title they had been given in 1782.


Regimental Badges | Regimental details


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by Stephen Luscombe