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#1
30-01-23, 10:10 PM
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For what headdress? 2nd Somerset Regiment plate
I am wondering on the date of use and on what type of headdress ( i.e. helmet, shako, etc?) this plate is worn? it bears the title "2ND SOMERSET REGT" with motto "DEFENDEMUS." "VR" cypher in centre. It measures 132 mm (5 1/4 inches) high X 117 mm (4 1/2 inches) wide. Multi-piece construction in gilt and silver. There are two retaining loops/lugs on the reverse and 3 X approximately 1 inch (25 mm) wires on the reverse of the crown. Thank you.
Last edited by Terra Nova; 31-01-23 at 01:06 PM. 
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#2
31-01-23, 01:17 AM
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Regards, David
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#3
31-01-23, 11:24 AM
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Hello David,
This is most useful information and is greatly appreciated. all the best, Tim
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#4
31-01-23, 11:46 AM
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I agree.
The wire fasteners behind the crown are indicative of an Albert Shako Plate. regards
__________________
Simon Butterworth Manchester Regiment Collector Rank, Prize & Trade Badges British & Commonwealth Artillery Badges
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#5
31-01-23, 12:47 PM
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Hello Tim... glad I could help! It is indeed a lovely shako plate and wonderful find, well done!!!
Kind regards, David
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#6
31-01-23, 01:03 PM
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with best regards, Tim
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#7
31-01-23, 01:05 PM
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Thank you. I do feel fortunate to have landed this exquisite piece. all the best, Tim
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#8
31-01-23, 03:31 PM
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I'm not sure I've seen an Albert Shako plate (worn 1844-1855) with the wire pins but it is a common feature of the Bell Top Shako (worn 1829-1844). See 84th Foot Bell Top shako picture below. (Its worth noting that not all Bell Top Shakos retain these wire pins as they tend to break off over time). Details of Shako dates can be found here https://www.yorkandlancasterregimentbadges.com/ Ivan
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#9
31-01-23, 07:02 PM
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Thank you, Ivan, for this information as well as for the link to that very interesting and well done Y & L Regt site. You may be correct that it is a bell top plate; the vendor from whom I acquired it believed it to be so. I'm not quite so sure, though, as the dimensions of this 2nd Somerset Regt plate (132 mm (5 1/4 inches) high X 117 mm (4 1/2 inches) wide are somewhat smaller than the few 1829 bell top shako plates that i've seen. This plate is very close in size to the 1879 and onwards standard regimental helmet plates. I readily admit that I am not well-versed with the early shako plates 1829 or 1844 issues, so welcome all perspectives. Thank you.
with kindest regards, Tim
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#10
31-01-23, 07:12 PM
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Tim, there was some variation in Bell Top Shako plates between different regiments and even an occasional change of pattern.
One of the key things to note on officer plates is the silver beading on the rays which is common to many Bell Top plates whereas the Albert Shako consisted of gilt metal with no silver decorations. The 40th Foot Bell Top plate does not appear in Kipling and King but there is a description of the Albert plate. Regardless, its a cracking Shako plate and apparently, not that common. Ivan
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#11
31-01-23, 08:38 PM
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Hello Ivan,
What you say makes good sense. A very pleasing aspect of the bell top shako plates is the silver beaded star, often inserted between gilt backing crowned star, and the centre, as here. From my limited research, I believe that this 2nd Somerset Regiment may be a Militia unit, as observed by David (YeoHelmetGuy) earlier in this thread. Is it possible that, as a Militia unit, they may have departed from the Albert shako rules for regular units which, as you point out, were for essentially all-gilt plates? I wonder...... all the best, Tim
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| 2nd somerset, plate, victorian |
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