'Heliograph signalling - Privates, Underhill, Jones and Pope', Sollum, Egypt, 1917 (c)

Photograph, World War One, Middle East (1914-1918), 1917 (c).

A soldier of 10th Battalion, The Buffs, uses a heliograph to signal while his comrade watches through a telescope for a reply. A heliograph used a mirror to reflect sunlight to a distant observer. By moving the mirror, flashes of light could be used to send Morse code. The 10th Battalion was formed at Sollum in Egypt on 1 February 1917 from two dismounted Yeomanry Regiments.

From an album of 36 negatives compiled by Pte W L Pope, No. 5 Pln, 10th Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).