Two exceptional George III silver City of Wells Volunteer Infantry Shoulder Belt Plates.

The City of Wells Volunteer Infantry.
Two extremely rare George III silver Officer’s Shoulder Belt Plates, Birmingham 1803, by Thomas Willmore. Each is engraved on the front with the arms of the city below a Royal Crown. Marked on the reverse. One is additionally engraved with the name ‘Mr. Geo. Lax’, the other with the name ‘Capn. Parfitt.’
These two men belonged to well known local families. George Lax, an attorney, was made a Lieutenant on 24th April 1804 and William Parfitt, Chapter Clerk of the Cathedral, a Lieutenant on 8th September 1803 and a Captain 14th March 1806. The City of Wells Volunteer Infantry [not to be confused with the Wells Volunteer Infantry of Norfolk] numbered some 220 men under the command of Captain Simon Davidge Witherell. The unit was part of the 2nd Regiment of East Somerset Volunteer Infantry.