curranl Posted 16 August , 2004 Share Posted 16 August , 2004 Hello All, I have been reading about Tom Kettle, an officer and poet in the 9th Dublin Fusiliers. Kettle wore a "steel waistcoat". I have never heard of this in relation to WW1 soldiers. I am assuming it was not a standard issue item and that he had it made by his local blacksmith or whoever. Has anyone else come across a reference to anything similar? As it happened, the steel waistcoat did not prevent him being killed at Ginchy on 9/9/1916. As he went over the top, he bent forward and a bullet went over the top of the waistcoat and entered his heart. A curious little historical footnote; a fellow officer, Emmett Dalton, comforted Kettle as he was dying. Dalton would survive the war and went on to be one of the key leaders of the IRA during the War of Independence here. He was with Michael Collins when Collins was killed at Beal na Blath. Regards, Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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