Something similar happened to my Dad inW2. The metal closure of his money-bag diverted the bullet and saved his life in Ukraine and only left a hole in his leg.
... but if they hadn't been clinking in his pocket, the German wouldn't have heard/seen him, so he wouldn't have been shot in the first place... They could have centime to an early grave!
On a similar note - in the recent Fighting Through podcast interviews with WW2 tank commander Stanley Perry, Captain Perry said that he got shot and if it hadn't been for a leather photo album that he had inside his shirt, the doctor said the bullet would probably have killed him.
... or was it Baldrick's relative where the bullet hit his cigarette case - and ricocheted up his nose and killed him?