Shoulder belt plate, Somerset Fencible Volunteers, 1800 (c)

Oval gilt copper plate with engraved insignia of a rayed star with the cross of St George, within a garter with the unit title, 'Soms Fencible Voluntrs', surmounted by a crown.

Fencible regiments were raised for home service so that regular Army units could be released for service abroad during the Wars of the French Revolution (1793-1802). Alongside the Militia, they would defend the country against the threat of invasion by the French. They had all been disbanded by 1802, with the men being encouraged to transfer to the regular army.

The Somerset Fencible Infantry were raised in 1794 and undertook service in Ireland to provide security during the 1798 Rebellion there.