Field Telephone Mechanic
Our field telephone mechanic is another symbol of the impact of technology on the Great War.
The field telephone mechanic is providing ‘landline’ communications between divisional headquarters and brigade, battalion headquarters, or command posts on the Western Front. The soldiers who provided this means of communication are called signallers. This field telephone mechanic is using the latest in electrical communication, but he is dressed to ride a horse as he is wearing leather leggings, riding breeches and has a water bottle slung over his shoulder.
It is summertime in France or Belgium as he has stripped down to his undershirt, but he is within range of enemy artillery as he is wearing a steel helmet. Between his legs is a spool of signal wire, and he holds a field telephone handset to his ear.
Explore field telephone mechanic 3D model
On this day
On this day
3 June
1942 — Battle of MIDWAY began. This decisive victory by the US Navy over the Japanese Navy shifted the balance of sea power in the Pacific and forced Japan to abandon plans to attack New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa. Japanese losses were 4 aircraft carriers, 1 cruiser, 248 aircraft, and over 3,000 sailors. American losses were 1 aircraft carrier, 1 destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 307 men
1944 — 78 Squadron, RAAF, carried out the last major air combat by the RAAF in WW2, off BIAK Island, New Guinea. 10 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of one Australian plane and pilot
1969 — HMAS MELBOURNE collided with USS FRANK E EVANS in the South China Sea. EVANS was cut in half and 74 of her crew were killed