Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Ross Horse Guards, an extremely fine and rare officer’s oval silver-plated shoulder belt plate, the obverse with a crowned circular strap engraved ‘Ross Horse Guards’’, centrally upon an etched ground ‘GR’, the reverse with two hooks and two studs and a maker’s mark ‘GW’ within an oval cartouche, slight wear to the engraving otherwise excellent condition £600-800

Note: The maker’s mark is possibly that of George Weddell of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Ross-shire raised no less than three battalions of volunteer infantry in 1803 but no cavalry units are listed, a possible alternative being a Ross-shire Troop serving as part of the Dumfriesshire Regiment of Fencible Cavalry 1795-1801. There is also a Ross Volunteer Infantry unit listed in the Supplementary corps of County Wexford but again no listed mounted unit.