Strong enough to deflect high calibre rifle rounds at 10 paces, the Kelly gang’s armour significantly contributed to their fearless and legendary reputations. Hindering precision aiming and obscuring a shooters view of vulnerable areas, the sections of metal used to construct the Kelly gang’s armour came from a variety of sources, bought, stolen and even donated by farmer’s (Irish and ‘Australian’ alike) sympathetic to the Kelly’s ‘underdog’ situation.
Mouldboards, the thick metal blades of ploughing equipment and other farming parts were the majority of pieces used and altered to make the armour; riveted, bolted, tied with thick wire and bent together into place. The armour, “thick as dinner plates” was also padded with quilt to lessen the harsh friction from the heavy metal, attached with rough leather straps and hinges. Although it is to this day unknown how and where the Kelly gang altered the metal mouldboards, it is agreed by most that it was most likely accomplished in the bush on a crude forge. The metal would have been heated to soften and allow for the gang members to bend and hammer it into shape.
More than primitive armour to hinder enemy aiming and protect the torso and shoulders, the imposing site of a fully clad bushranger was frightening and demoralising to the troopers facing the Kelly gang at the Glenrowan siege as it made them appear larger in stature and produced threatening sounds as bullets whizzed and deflected off.
Activity
Pros and Cons of the Famed Armour:
The Kelly Gang are set aside from other bushrangers in their daring use of their trademark armour to instil fear in the troopers and boost their own courage in the face of gunfire, but questions that need to be discussed before you design your own include:
How effective was the Kelly Gang’s armour as a form of protection i.e: do you think the exposed limbs were part of Ned Kelly’s downfall?
Did donning the armour give the Kelly Gang a false sense of security and encourage foolishness rather than bravery?
Once injured Ned Kelly was unable to aim his weapon and fire accurately, does this factor negate the purpose of his armour if he was unable to fight affectively, or do you think the armour was primarily for intimidation?
Reflect on ‘The Crimes’ section of this site, paying particular attention to the Glenrowan siege. It is obvious that the ghost like figures of the Kelly gang in their armour had a psychological effect and prevented lethal head and chest wounds, but take these aforementioned questions into account and compile a list of pros and cons regarding the Kelly armour.
Before designing armour of your own, watch the video about the different sections that made Ned Kelly’s armour. DO NOT COPY, but try to adapt these ideas using your list of pros and cons, and make improvements where you feel the Kelly’s went wrong.
https://www2.slv.vic.gov.au/collections/treasures/kelly_armour/kellyvideo.html
To complete this activity you need to create and draw your own concept of bushranger armour (taking into account the resources you would have available).
