The War of 1870-71 in pictures

[Ace of Spades]

Looks like an officers cuirass to me; so riding up front and with multiple hits at one time (I mean; you're bound to fall off after one of those hits!) my guess would be something like cannister...
Another option is that it was used for target practice afterwards but I don't think it would be worthwhile to preserve it like that then...?

Cheers,
Rob

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Canister?

[cameronian]

Canister?

Getting warm Ace, officer's cuirasse, not canister nor bullets (French cuirasse, bulletproof).

[Ace of Spades]

Oh, wait a minute...French...? Then it must be rust!
No sorry, silly remark but couldn't resist it...

But reall'; the picture is rather small so the shape/size of the holes is hard to recognize. Would have to look up Prussian ammo types but maybe grape or shrapnel then?

Cheers,
Rob

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Swords from Vron?

[Ace of Spades]

For as far as I can see the hole on the lower right of the picture seems rather 'round' and about 1,5cm wide so then my best guess would be grapeshot...

Cheers,
Rob

[cameronian]

Shell fragments.
According to Hardoin's Français & Allemands: histoire anecdotique de la guerre de 1870-1871, Archambault (or, to give his full name, Archambault de Beaune) was killed by a shell burst, which removed half his head. Apparently, neither this appalling injury nor the chest wounds indicated by the damage to his cuirasse killed him immediately and he lingered until 7 August, the day after Froeschwiller (Martimprey: Historique du 9e Régiment de Cuirassiers). The holes in the cuirasse shown on the photograph are more consistent with shell splinters than with rifle fire, especially since Archambault was charging on horseback when he was hit. Archambault was leading the regiment when he was mortally wounded because the colonel, Waternau, had already been unhorsed and captured.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Wouch!

[KTravlos]

Poor man

[Rob]

I think this is such a good site it would be worth putting it into the Resources section.