THE mystery badge found by a metal detectorist from Llangattock has been identified separately by two readers as a shoulder belt plate from the uniform of a soldier serving in a militia unit in Brecon.

Wally Elliott, 83, says he is delighted to have received such a speedy response as a result of the story carried in the Brecon and Radnor Express two weeks’ ago.

Both readers said the oval brass badge bearing an emblem of the Prince of Wales feathers in front of an eight-pointed star and the letters ’LM’ was from the West Brecon Local Militia unit.

Phil Dunning said: "The badge is West Brecon Local Militia. It formed on March 23 1809 under the command of Lt Col Comm Henry Allen, kept the same name until 1813 when it was retitled the Breckonshire Regt and was disbanded in 1816 in line with the end of Local Militias."

He added the badge was identified by Blue_Yeti after details were posted on the UK Detectornet Metal Detecting Forum website.

A different Phil, Phil Harvey, emailed the B&R Express, saying: "The badge is of the West Brecon Local Militia."

Mr Harvey said he runs detecting events for a group called the ’Metal Detectives’ and in a subsequent email he wrote: "The unit would have been active around the c1800 period. There is a mention of them in a book, ’The Local Militia Paymaster; Or Military Friend’, written by Capt George Thomas in 1812 and also in a newspaper article of 1809. Regarding its use, I believe it was more likely used as a shoulder belt plate than [a badge on] a hat."

And after seeing an image of the reverse side of the badge, Mr Harvey added: "On the crown reverse side where the hole is you can see where the hook was attached and the two circular bits near the holes at the bottom are the remains of the fixing studs. To me the holes suggest the fixings were broken off either through use or deliberately and the plate reused with the holes being used for attachment."

The first Phil, Mr Dunning, also emailed the B&R newsdesk details of a page on the website of auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb relating to a similar cross belt plate from the Royal Welch Fusiliers (1800-1820), which was part of a collection of ’Militaria to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord’ which fetched £1,900.

Mr Elliott, who found the shoulder belt plate while roaming the fields with a metal detector near his home, said: "I am shocked and pleased that two of your readers have identified the ’mystery’ badge and so quickly. Both Phils have come up with two explanations of the badgeÕs history which coincide.

"I have metal detected for over 40 years and used the experience and academic understanding of the archaeologist to fathom the mysteries

of unearthed metallic artefacts over that period,but I can honestly say that I haven’t had such a rapid and comprehensive identification of an artefact, as I’ve had in this case."