Officer's Shoulder-Belt Plate, Battalion Company, 19th Regiment of Foot

The 19^th Regiment of Foot, later nicknamed the Green Howards, landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Light Division of the English Army of the East.  Their battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

Most of the British officers who went to the Crimea carried a sword, and in some cases, a pistol, to defend themselves.  Various types of pistols were carried stuck in waist belts or saddlebags, but the sword was carried within easy reach on a sword belt across the officer’s right shoulder and hanging at his left hip.  This belt bore a breast plate more ornate and detailed than the enlisted soldiers (known as the ‘other ranks’) wore.

The artifact in this photograph is such an officer’s sword-belt plate of the 19^th Regiment.  It is in excellent condition, with the exception of the chipped green malachite within the rope circle.  The officer’s regimental number is in Roman numerals (XIX).  Such a badge worn by enlisted soldiers would merely contain the Arabic number “19.”  The rope pattern, number, crown, and rectangular plate are gilt for officers.  The eight-pointed star is silver.

Although there is wear on the plate, there is no specific evidence of this artifact having been in the Crimea.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, UK.