Troops from 81st West African Division chlorinating water in the Kaladan valley, Burma, 1944 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, Far East, 1944 (c).

Troops fighting in Burma faced a plethora of deadly tropical diseases; malaria in particular was endemic. Many more soldiers fell victim to these diseases than were killed or wounded by the enemy. Chlorinating water was one of a raft of basic practices that helped to protect the health of soldiers.

From an album of 36 photographs compiled by Captain E B Mee (later Major), Royal Signals, 81st West African Division.