Shoulder belt plate, Blackheath West Kent Local Militia, 1809

Silver, rectangular shoulder belt plate, with a rayed star with a rearing horse in the centre, within an oval bearing the unit title, 'Blackheath. West. Kent. L. Militia', with a crown above, and a scroll below bearing 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.