Information Gallery

A British Advanced observation post

A ruined house is used as an advanced observation post by British officers. Situated close to German lines, the officers relay information back about the accuracy of artillery fire. The dark cloth seen behind one of the officers (with binoculars) helps to disguise any movement. Seen against a background of sky, he would inevitably attract the attention of snipers. Date: 1915

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Arecibo message and decoded key C016/6817

Arecibo message and decoded key. Diagram showing the binary transmission (left) known as the Arecibo message, with the message decoded and labelled at centre and right. This message was broadcast on 16 November 1974 by the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, USA. The message was aimed at the M13 globular star cluster (25, 000 light years distant). The broadcast lasted less than three minutes and consisted of 1679 binary digits. The seven parts of the message were (from top): the numbers 1-10, elemental atomic numbers for DNA, nucleotide formulae for DNA, double helix of DNA, a human figure, the solar system, and the transmitting telescope

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Interrogation of Aircrews; W.A.A.F. Help In This Work, c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton

Interrogation of Aircrews; W.A.A.F. Help In This Work, c1943. The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs, was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Its members did not serve as aircrew, but although they did not participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the home front working at military installations. Among their duties were: crewing of barrage balloons, catering, meteorology, radar, aircraft maintenance, transport, communications duties including wireless telephonic and telegraphic operation. At its peak strength, in 1943, the number of WAAFs (members of the force) exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week. From "Wings On Her Shoulders", by Katharine Bentley Beauman, Late Fight Officer W.A.A.F. [Hutchinson & Co Ltd, London, New York, Melbourne, c1943]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images