Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/11/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my husband acquired a cannonball many years ago with a story saying that it was the 1st cannonball to be fired at the battle of Waterloo. It was taken from the Rotunda museum during the war. We do believe it to be bronze. It weighs 7.8kg and measures 11.5cm height. I have enclosed a picture, could you please advise me if this could be Bronze and how to find further information on it, many thanks Michelle

ANSWER: Hi Michelle,

It does appear to be a bronze cannon ball.  However the photo is blurry.  Would you kindly send me one or two that are clear and sharp?  Also are there any numbers stamped on t he surface and how large in diameter is the fuze?  (the round plug?).

Thank you

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, i have many pictures, will send another one, is there anyway i can attach more than one at a time? there's no numbers stamped on the surface that i can see. The plug is approx 2cm x 2cm, thanks Michelle

Answer
I believe that you can put several photos on the site at one time.  However, this is a Demi Culverin type solid ball.  This was shot from a 4 3/4" bore cannon, a small ship's cannon, like a deck gun rather then one of the larger "ship cannons".  This was in all likelihood a French ball as they perfered bronze vs. iron. However, with out munitions markings, this could have been cast as early as 1730 and as late as 1910.  As for it being the first shot of Waterloo, there is no way to prove this with out markings to this effect or documentation.  

Sorry I could not be more definitive.