What: A “Dhal shield” made of dished hide and metal

Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT

Status: Possible link to Maqdala. The description says it is believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign. The design is different from other shields taken during the campaign.

The database entry: describes a “Dhal shield, 1867-1868; made of dished hide and metal; four brass bosses, four crescents and decoratively shaped brass plaques; believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign (King Theodore) by Col C F James.

Another entry on the museum database has a photograph and describes: “Circular shield made of dished hide with the outer surface decorated with four brass bosses, four crescents and decoratively shaped brass plaques. The edge has an iron strip bounding it decorated with brass studs. The inside has a small cushion and four iron rings. The shield was reputedly captured by Captain Cornelius Francis (Frank) James, DAQMS with the expeditionary force, during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868).

Museum accession number
Armour 1959-10-75