~ Circa 1770 British 60th Royal American Regiment Of Foot Shoulder Belt Plate ~
The badge has the numeral 60 within a belt wreath bearing the Latin motto ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’ (shame on anyone who thinks evil of it) under a Georgian Kings crown. There are three lugs to the reverse.
~ 60th Regiment ~
The renumbered 60th Royal American Regiment was formed in 1757 during the phase of the Seven Years’ War in North America, known in the United States as ‘The French and Indian War’.
The regiment was intended to combine the characteristics of a colonial corps with those of a foreign legion. Swiss and German forest fighting experts, American colonists and British volunteers from other British regiments were recruited. These men were Protestants, an important consideration for fighting against the predominantly Catholic French. The officers were also recruited from Europe – not from the American colonies – and consisted of English, Scots, Irish, Dutch, Swiss and Germans. It was the first time foreign officers were commissioned as British Army officers.
Elements of the new regiment fought at Louisbourg in June 1758, the Cape Sable Campaign in September 1758 and Quebec in September 1759, and finally the Montreal Campaign from July to September 1760 which finally wrested Canada from France. At Quebec General James Wolfe is said to have granted the 60th the motto Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold). To reward and maintain their service and loyalty, Parliament passed the American Protestant Soldier Naturalization Act 1762, which offered British naturalization to those officers, engineers and soldiers who had or would serve for two years, with certain conditions and on the model of the Plantation Act 1740.
Two additional battalions of the regiment (the 3rd and 4th battalions) were raised in England in 1775, principally of men recruited from England and Hanover in 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War. After assembly in the Isle of Wight, both battalions were sent in 1776 to Florida where they were joined by detachments from 1st and 2nd Battalions. These battalions were deployed to Georgia and were involved in skirmishes at Sudbury in January 1779, the Battle of Briar Creek in March 1779, the Siege of Savannah in October 1779 where elements from the 4th Battalion captured the Colour of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, and at Augusta in September 1780. The 3rd and 4th battalions were disbanded in June 1783.
After many amalgations the regiment still exists as the 2nd Green Jackets, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps today.
~ Condition ~
The front engraving is worn from prior polishing.
~ Dimensions ~
The badge is 8.2 cm (3.5 inches) tall and 5.7 cm (2.25 inches) wide.
MLFCOX23X23C31D
