Zulu War Shields

Posts : 706 Join date : 2012-05-05

I have been looking on the web at various genuine Anglo Zulu War Shields.
Not to buy just out of interest. But what I find amazing is that every shield I look at not one had a bullet hole. Surly some shields were hit. And the thousands of Zulu that died must have left a shield. So where are all the shields that were carried into battle. If anyone has got a shield showing battle scaring please post.

Posts : 2581 Join date : 2009-04-24

Ray, the shields had be doctored prior to battle, so the bullets bounced off the shields. Rolling Eyes

Posts : 187 Join date : 2010-02-04

I wonder if the MH would have blown it to bits.

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

Doubt it. Just a neat little hole.

Subject: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:14 am

The MH round must have had some right old wallop behind it, in some instances it seems to have behaved like a dum dum round. For instance, was there not Zulu bodies found with neat little holes in the front on their heads, but with the backs of their heads blown away, and some of the shattered bones of the wounded must have been horrific. So anyone trying to fend off a round with a doctored shield was on a loser.

Salute

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Hi all

We have a shield on display in the museum that has a small hole in it, supposedly caused by a MH round. The story could well be feasible - because of the material of the shield, the size of the round and its velocity, I would not expect anything greater than a small hole as the bullet passes through.

Bill

Subject: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:21 pm

Hi Bill.

Any chance of sending a picture of the shield?

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Photo of shield ? I'll see what I can do.

Bill

Subject: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:49 pm

Cheers Bill.

Salute

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Admin

I have some photos - can you send me an email address for me to send these to you to put on the site ?
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Cheers

Bill

Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:08 pm

There's your answer Ray.
The SWB museum itself, have as near to a genuine, battle scarred 1879 Zulu shield as you can get and even Bill Cainan wouldn't guarantee its authenticity 100%.
(Unlike these dealers you'll find on ebay, who seem to have no trouble finding them and selling 3 or 4 of them a week).
Obviously, buyer beware!

Hope Admin can get the picture up so we can see if anyone knows which amabutho it belonged to. (If you know Bill, don't tell !)

Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:21 pm

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Bullet Hole can clearly be seen at the bottom.
Photos Supplied by Forum Member Bill Cainan,(Curator The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh)

Posts : 706 Join date : 2012-05-05

Bill. Thanks very much for the photos. It's the first shield I have see with a bullet hole. Do you have any other information such as who brought the shield back to England. Salute

Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:07 pm

Great photo Bill.

Hopefully, one may come to light, that shows more than one bullet hole. This in conjunction with the amount of rounds fire, doesn't bode well for English marksmanship. You need to study mo

Subject: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:24 pm

Hi Bill.

Many thanks for taking the time to photograph the shield, much obliged, and thanks to Pete for posting. Salute

Hi LH.

I would have thought it showed excellent English marksmanship, ie; one hole = one round = one dead Zulu.

Salute

Subject: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:27 pm

Thanks Bill for taking the time to photograph the shield and Pete thanks for posting it . Very Happy

Cheers 90th. Salute