Description
The shoulder plate belongs to the Staffordshire 80th Regiment of Foot and can be dated to around 1829–30. The sphinx shown on the shoulder plate refers to the Regiment’s service during the 1801 Egyptian Campaign. The officer is wearing an 1829 Pattern coatee, which remained in use until the mid-1850s, and appears to be either a Subaltern or a Captain. At this date, rank was distinguished by the gold epaulettes worn by officers of centre companies, while officers of flank companies wore gold wings. As these epaulettes bear no star for Major, crown for Lieutenant Colonel, or star and crown for Colonel, the officer must be either a Captain or a Subaltern. Rank may also be indicated by the length of the bullion fringes: those of Captains were 2½ inches deep, while those of Subalterns were slightly shorter. On that basis, the bullion fringes may indicate a Captain.
Checks of the collection system have been completed. Unfortunately, no matching photographs or images of this officer were found, so his identity remains a mystery.
The Staffordshire Regiment Museum
Matt Naughton
Curator & Head of Research
