United Kingdom. An 18Th (The Royal Irish) Regiment Of Foot Shoulder Belt Plate, C.1885

In cast brass, rectangular, illustrating a harp in the centre with a winged woman on hits left side, flanked by branches in either side bearing roses, thistles and shamrocks, surmounted by the Victorian crown and a ribbon banner inscribed in Latin "VIRTUTIS NAMURCENSIS PRARMIUM" (Reward for Valour at Namur), a sphinx resting upon a pedestal inscribed "EGYPT" above a ribbon banner with laurel leaves at either end and inscribed "XVIII ROYAL IRISH" at the base, measuring 71.3 mm (w) x 97.3 mm (h), the three original lugs having been severed from the plate, light contact and surface wear, spotting, better than very fine.

Footnote: The Royal Irish Regiment, until 1881 the 18th Regiment of Foot, was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1684. Also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot, it was one of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, its home depot in Clonmel. It saw service for two and a half centuries before being disbanded with the Partition of Ireland following establishment of the independent Irish Free State in 1922 when the five regiments that had their traditional recruiting grounds in the counties of the new state were disbanded.