Signaller, Service Dress 1897


This private of the 2nd Battalion wears the uniform worn in the Tirah campaign of 1897/8. In the mountains of Afghanistan the weather would have been cold in winter so the Guthrie coat was worn by all ranks. The helmet and equipment were issued as white but the men stained them with tea to make themselves less conspicuous. He is wearing home service trousers which would have been warmer than the khaki drill breeches worn in summer.

There were three types of flag used for signalling. Two small flags for semaphore over a short distance, a 2 ft square flag for morse code over longer distances, and a 3 ft square flag for even longer distances. Behind him is a heliograph using a mirror for signalling.


Uniforms | Regimental Details


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by Stephen Luscombe