Abstract: Improved means for securing an externally mounted ground plate to an electrical connector, the ground plate being secured along one of the sides of the connector and having a leading edge thereof exposed at the mating face of the connector and adapted to be received within the housing of a complementary connector upon the connector being mated thereto. The improved means includes a pair of tabs extending from the ground plate proximate the leading edge thereof and engagable with and latchingly securable in cooperating slots on end walls of the connector housing and a plurality of ground plate flared apertures lockingly secured within corresponding slots of the connector sidewalls proximate the leading edges thereof. The secured ground plate lies against the side wall and the overall dimensions of the mating face are not substantially increased thereby.