manceheliograph

CO 1069-107-12

from The National Archives UK

• sinyala2 said:

  Kings African Rifles

• signal mirror said:

  This photo of Kings African Rifles signallers shows seven Caucasians (centre row) and 14 native troops (six seated in front with flags, six standing in back with flags, and two standing on either end with 5" diameter circular mirrors mounted on tripods). The tripod-mounted mirror instruments are 5" Mance Heliographs set up in simplex (signal-mirror) mode, with the leather carrying cases slung on the tripods, per standard practice. Heliographs were used to flash messages by Morse Code at ranges up to 30 miles or more, and saw heavy use in Africa by British, German and Boer forces from the late 1870s through WWI, with use continuing into WWII. For more on heliographs, see: Wikipedia:Heliograph Below is another photo of K.A.R.. signallers with a heliograph (believed to be from the 4th Kings African Rifles in Uganda); There's a very nice video held at the Imperial War Museum about the signallers of the Kings African Rifles with several segments showing heliographs in action (including footage of a 12" heliograph mirror in use - very rare footage) that can be viewed on the web at this link: K.A.R SIGNALS : a film of routine in remote places I've posted some other photos of Mance heliographs on Flickr here: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalmirror/sets/72157631978269679/]