| Accession Number | REL/00019 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Badge |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | unknown, probably 20th century |
| Source credit to | This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government. |
Cross belt plate: 40th Regiment of Foot, British Army, C 1850
Description
Brass casting of a 40th Regiment of Foot cross belt plate. Casting is 67mm wide, and 87mm high, and 1mm thick. The casting is poorly executed, with little defined detail in the exterior visible side. The reverse side is more clearly defined, with the Regiment's battle honours able to be discerned (in reverse) . A better quality original has clearly been used as the master for this copy. The casting has no means by which it could have been attached to a belt.
History / Summary
The 40th Regiment served in Victoria between 1852- 1860, their duties mainly involving maintaining law and order on the goldfields. In December 1854 the Regiment took part in the suppression of the revolt at the Eureka Stockade. One officer and five other ranks were killed in the action. In 1860 the Regiment sailed for New Zealand to serve in the Maori wars.
The fact that the Regiment participated in the Eureka Rebellion imbues any artifact associated with it to a high level of national significance, but has also resulted in widespread replication. This is apparently an example of such replication.