Cuirassiers

Cuirassiers, heavy dragoons, part of whose equipment consists of a breastplate and backpiece of steel, or other substance, as for instance in the case of the Cent Gardes of Napoleon III., of aluminium. In the English army, though the name is not used, the equipment has been used since Waterloo on all ceremonial occasions, though not upon active service, by the Life Guards and Horse Guards. Most European armies have Cuirassiers.