Pattern 1796, Heavy Cavalry Officer’s Dress sword, Archenfield Local Militia, 1808 (c)

Blade inscribed with Hereford coat of arms and regimental initials (HALM), archer and barrels of cider, owners crest, initials (FC?) and arms.

Local Militia units were raised following an Act of 1808 and were designed to create a trained body of men, who could be used for local defence, but who could also be encouraged to transfer to the regular Army in return for a financial incentive, or bounty. The scheme was very successful and helped solve the manpower shortage during the Napoleonic Wars. The Local Militia were all disbanded in 1814.