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

‘Gibraltar 13 Sept 1782’, (2nd/73rd Regiment 1778-1783?), an extremely fine and rare officer’s oval brass gilt shoulder belt plate, the unit as yet not positively identified, slightly convex with engraved legends the rim with ‘dart’ and inner single line decoration enclosing an early depiction of St Edward’s crown over stylised ‘GR’ cypher, below in period script lettering ‘Gibraltar/‘13 Sept/1782’, reverse with one hook and two stud fasteners, excellent condition £600-800

Note; A regiment subsequently numbered 73rd but known generally as McLeod’s Highlanders was raised in April 1778 under the Colonelcy of John MacKenzie, (commonly called Lord McLeod being the eldest son of the attainted Earl of Cromartie), in September following he was further ordered to raise a 2nd Battalion this came under the command of his brother the Hon. George MacKenzie. This battalion joined the convoy of Admiral Rodney and temporarily serving as Marines was present at the naval victory 16 January 1780 off Cape St Vincent. On 18 January it disembarked at Gibraltar then under blockade and was one of the five regiments engaged in the memorable defence of that fortress under General Eliott (later lord Heathfield), it took a most active part in the great sortie 26/27 November 1781. The siege was raised in February 1783 and the battalion returned to England and was disbanded 3 October 1783. The first battalion saw service in India and was later renumbered 71st (later the Highland Light Infantry), as the honour ‘Gibraltar was not authorised until April 1784 and therefore missed by the old 2nd/73rd, it was not until the mid nineteenth century that the honour ‘Gibraltar’ was successfully claimed by the 71st HLI. As early shoulder belt plates of the 12th 39th 56th & 58th Regiments are fairly well recorded there is a case therefore that this plate could pertain to the short lived 2nd/73rd. An Artillery troop is also a possibility.