This Shoulder-Belt Plate is undated and seemingly unrecorded. The photo comes from an auction catalogue which describes it as ‘A fine scarce example comprising a burnished gilt rectangular plate mounted with gilt Crowned Garter resting within a laurel wreath in high relief. Within the Garter the White Horse on gilt ground with “VIII” below. Reverse retains original fixings comprising two hooks and two studs. Minor wear to gilt high points and wear to gilt backing plate. Generally in very good condition.’
The horse is not silver as was usual for officers’ belt plates, nor placed on red velvet. That may indicate that it was a senior NCO’s belt plate. But the wreath design suggests that it was a copy of an officers’ item.
The only reference to a wreathed design is to be found in Parkyn’s book on Belt Plates in which he concludes the description of King’s Regiment plates with this:
‘In a sale at Glendining’s in February 1952, a gilt shoulder-belt plate was sold. The plate was burnished and the design mounted in bright gilt of the White Horse, below a scroll bearing in Old English lettering the motto ‘Nec aspera terrent’. Below the horse the Roman number ‘VIII’ in matted gilt. All within a crowned garter inscribed ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’. A spray of laurel leaves on either side with scrolls inscribed MARTINIQUE and NIAGARA. The approximate size was 4.5 X 3.5 inches. It is not clear when this plate was worn as its size rather points to a comparatively recent date. It may even have been a colour-belt plate.’
