Shoulder belt plate, 2nd East Kent Local Militia, 1808-1815

Die-struck copper, silver plated, rectangular plate with clipped corners with a rearing horse within a circlet with the unit title, '2nd East Kent Local Militia', on a rayed star, surmounted by crown; a scroll below with the motto, 'Invicta'.

Local Militia units were raised following an Act of 1808 and were designed to create a trained body of men, who could be used for local defence, but who could also be encouraged to transfer to the regular Army in return for a financial incentive, or bounty. The scheme was very successful and helped solve the manpower shortage during the Napoleonic Wars. The Local Militia were all disbanded in 1814.