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Signalling equipment on the Western Front, WW1
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Signalling equipment on the Western Front, WW1
The various instruments used by signallers in transmitting messages on the Western Front during the First World War. In the left hand top corner are the aerial cables conveying telephone or Morse code messages. The lines are laid on the ground or buried near the firing line. Next is the Begbie lamp for flashing Morse code messages. Then two kinds of flags - one white and another blue - for use against light or dark backgrounds. An electric lamp on a tripod stand is used at night. Two types of flap or disc instruments follow. They are opened and shut with the long and short pauses of the Morse code. The one with the three flaps attached to a spring can be attached to a tree or wall. Then comes the much more familiar heliograph with its mirrors, which, of course, require sunshine to transmit messages. Finally, there is a whistle, which can be used for signals with Morse or other code. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14168769
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Cables Code Communication Flashing Instruments Lamp Messages Morse Signal Signallers Signalling Telephone Transmitting
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This evocative photograph captures the essential tools of communication used by signallers on the Western Front during the First World War. In the upper left corner, aerial cables are laid on the ground and buried near the firing line, conveying telephone or Morse code messages. Above these, a Begbie lamp flashes Morse code messages in the dark, its bright light piercing the night. Two kinds of flags are displayed, one white for use against light backgrounds and another blue for darker conditions. An electric lamp on a tripod stand illuminates the area for night-time signalling. Two types of flap or disc instruments follow, opened and shut with the long and short pauses of Morse code. The one with the three flaps attached to a spring can be easily attached to a tree or wall. The more familiar heliograph, with its mirrors, requires sunshine to transmit messages. Lastly, a whistle is shown, which can be used for signals with Morse or other codes. This powerful image, dated 1918, offers a glimpse into the complex communication systems that played a vital role in the conduct of the First World War.
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