Shoulder Belt Plates (SBPs), sometimes called Cross Belt Plates, evolved from the leather shoulder belts that swords and pouches were carried on. These eventually became a more decorative piece rather than a functional item but most carried a plate or decoration of some sort that identified the wearers regiment.
Battle honours and naming conventions are a useful guide to dating SBPs and are an indication of when a SBP came into use.
65th of Foot
1758 Known as The 65th Regiment of Foot
1782 Known as 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot
1823 The Tiger awarded
1823 Battle honour ‘India’ awarded
1824 Battle honour ‘Arabia’ awarded
84th of Foot
1894-1809 Known as The 84th of Foot
1809 Became The 84th York and Lancaster Regiment of Foot
1813 Battle of Nive
1815 Battle honour 'Peninsula' awarded to 2nd Bn
1818 Battle honours 'Peninsula' and Nive awarded to the whole regiment
1826 Battle honour ‘India’ awarded.