Shoulder belt plate, officer, Halifax Local Militia, 1808-1814

White metal design mounted on a gilt copper burnished plate. At the centre, a five-petalled rose with a smaller rose at centre. The rose is surrounded by an oval frosted scroll embellished at the base with foliate design, and at the top, a lion's head. The scroll bears the burnished inscription, to the dexter of the lion's head, 'Halifax. Lo.' and to the sinister, 'Cal Militia'. The reverse bears two copper hook fittings at the top and two studs at the base.

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.