A soldier of 81st West African Division filling a water bottle from a stream, 1944 (c)

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

Drinking contaminated water caused many casualties during the Burma campaign. To counter waterborne ailments such as amoebic dysentery and typhoid, Allied soldiers were issued with chlorinating tablets and, if possible, would boil their water.

From an album of 36 photographs compiled by Captain E B Mee (later Major), Royal Signals, 81st West African Division, Burma, 1944-1945.