Royal Engineers with a mine detector, 1942 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, North Africa, 1942 (c).

In the Western Desert the use of large armoured formations combined with the featureless terrain created ideal conditions for the use of land mines in a defensive role. The sappers are using the Mark I electronic mine detector. This was designed by Lieutenant JS Kozacki, a Polish officer who escaped to Britain in 1940. The equipment weighed just under 30lb and could be operated by one man.