| Zulu War Shields | |
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+6bill cainan Mr M. Cooper Dave ciscokid Chelmsfordthescapegoat Ray63 10 posters |
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Ray63

Posts : 706 Join date : 2012-05-05
 | Subject: Zulu War Shields Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:36 pm | |
| 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. |
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Chelmsfordthescapegoat

Posts : 2594 Join date : 2009-04-24
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:20 pm | |
| Ray, the shields had be doctored prior to battle, so the bullets bounced off the shields. |
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ciscokid
Posts : 187 Join date : 2010-02-04
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:59 pm | |
| I wonder if the MH would have blown it to bits.
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Dave

Posts : 1604 Join date : 2009-09-21
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:19 am | |
| Doubt it. Just a neat little hole. |
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Mr M. Cooper

Posts : 2522 Join date : 2011-09-29 Location : Lancashire, England.
 | 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. |
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bill cainan
Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:49 pm | |
| 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 |
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Mr M. Cooper

Posts : 2522 Join date : 2011-09-29 Location : Lancashire, England.
 | Subject: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:21 pm | |
| Hi Bill.
Any chance of sending a picture of the shield? |
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bill cainan
Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:44 pm | |
| Photo of shield ? I'll see what I can do.
Bill |
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Mr M. Cooper

Posts : 2522 Join date : 2011-09-29 Location : Lancashire, England.
 | Subject: Zulu War Shields Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:49 pm | |
| Cheers Bill. |
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bill cainan
Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:24 am | |
| Admin I have some photos - can you send me an email address for me to send these to you to put on the site ? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Cheers Bill |
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tasker224

Posts : 2101 Join date : 2010-07-30 Age : 55 Location : North London
 | 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 !) |
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ADMIN

Posts : 4294 Join date : 2008-11-01 Age : 63 Location : KENT
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:21 pm | |
| [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Bullet Hole can clearly be seen at the bottom. Photos Supplied by Forum Member Bill Cainan,(Curator The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh) |
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Ray63

Posts : 706 Join date : 2012-05-05
 | Subject: Re: Zulu War Shields Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:52 pm | |
| 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. |
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littlehand

Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 53 Location : Down South.
 | 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. |
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Mr M. Cooper

Posts : 2522 Join date : 2011-09-29 Location : Lancashire, England.
 | 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. Hi LH. I would have thought it showed excellent English marksmanship, ie; one hole = one round = one dead Zulu. |
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90th

Posts : 10482 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 66 Location : Melbourne, Australia
 | 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 . Cheers 90th. |
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| Zulu War Shields | |
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