T8HANTS Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 As part of my living history displays I am teaching myself semaphore with flags, but I have no WW1 manuals on the subject. So what I would like to know is would an order such as, CEASE FIRE, be spelt out, or would there be a short code group of letters used instead? Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Only chop-chop and attention? http://cgi.ebay.com/-Signal-Disk-1914-LA-C...0519192010r2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Orders would be delivered by messenger, the enemy could read semaphore too. Semaphore, to my limited knowledge was not used on the western front but was in East Africa on occassion. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Would it's main use have been ship to ship then? Regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Semaphore would be used with a code book for low level communication, the 3 letter code had 64,000 sentences. This was also used by wire and light. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Semaphore was used and the wigwagger would be careful to occupy a position where the intended recipient could see him but the enemy could not. The ABC did not have to be used. Morse could be sent by flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steenie Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 As part of my living history displays I am teaching myself semaphore with flags, but I have no WW1 manuals on the subject. So what I would like to know is would an order such as, CEASE FIRE, be spelt out, or would there be a short code group of letters used instead? Gareth Gareth, I have 'Training Manual Signals (provisional) 1915' which covers all aspects including flags. Am happy to scan those bits for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 20 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Hi all Thank you for your replies and observations, while I am quite sure there were places where semaphore flags could not be used I suspect that all signalers had to learn the skill, if only to qualify for their trade. What I am trying to get across is how difficult WW1 battlefield communications would have been, to a generation quite used to the mobile phone. I am a bit long in the tooth to learn Morse, but I thought I could cope with flags. Steenie I would be most grateful for any info you could send my way PM me and I will let you have my normal e-mail address, thanks. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 "What I am trying to get across is how difficult WW1 battlefield communications would have been, to a generation quite used to the mobile phone. I am a bit long in the tooth to learn Morse, but I thought I could cope with flags." When I was at school some many many years ago (60's) one of the teachers was explaining that taking a message while in the front line was like playing "British Bulldog" eventually you get caught (he had been wounded taking a message). I don't suppose you could play that sort of game in todays playgrounds but like tag rugby if you can get from one side of the field of play to the other without loosing your tag, you deliver the message, if not your down and out, someone else then needs to take your message and carry on. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 20 May , 2009 Share Posted 20 May , 2009 Charles, you are never too old to learn morse. Once learned never forgotten, can still read 30 wpm - thats if you can find any on the HF band these days. Signalmen also - when close enough - used their fingers only, a trained op had no difficulty reading like that. And, you wouldnt catch me using semaphore on a battlefield, would be an open invitation for a bullet in the back of the head David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 21 May , 2009 Share Posted 21 May , 2009 It's a shame we don't live nearer Gareth, I could help you practice. I learnt semaphore in the Guides in the late 50s / early 60s (took a badge) and I've just discovered I can still get up to M ( lol) without even thinking. We were taught to always make sure we were very obvious, and to stand against a very plain background - the sky being best - which would certainly make you very vunerable. (As a complete off topic aside but remotely relevent, I used to visit a family whose parents spoke to each other in morse when us children weren't allowed to know what they were talking about. They learn't it in the WRAF / RAF in WW2.) Regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 21 May , 2009 Share Posted 21 May , 2009 I have a strong impression that Morse was favoured, partly because it had to be mastered for lamp, heliograph and WT. Not a lot of point in learning another system? [Morse flag wags were just two types, for dot and dash]. Flags were certainly used on occasion in 2nd RWF, with a cadre of skilled pre-war signallers available. The job was [with scouting] the top job in the battalion .... only the best and brightest need apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 21 May , 2009 Share Posted 21 May , 2009 Here is my Great Uncle's Military Cross citation: London Gazette (Supplement) January 11, 1919 p.614 T./Lt. John Douglas Cox R.F.A. [sALONIKA] For conspicuous gallantry as liason officer during an attack. He carried out his duties with great determination and skill, and by untiring efforts communication was maintained by telephone when all the battalion lines had been cut. During the most critical hours of the fight he advanced towards the enemy position and established communication by flag under intense bombardment when no other means of communication was available. His courage and devotion to duty were a fine example to all ranks. I'd always thought that he used semaphore but I guess it could have been by morse flag as some have mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 There's some film of semaphore signallers mentioned here: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...c=124386&hl= Regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbloy Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 If not used to any great extent by the 'usual' infantry on the Western Front, I'm sure that the Royal Naval Divisions would have had plenty of qualified signallers capable of sending semaphore. Whether it would have been a good idea to wave brightly coloured flags around on the battlefield is however questionable (even by WW1 standards). Regards, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6th Hauraki KIA KAHA Posted 1 June , 2009 Share Posted 1 June , 2009 Even if Semaphore was not used as much, It was still a requirement to pass as a signalman right up until WW2 Regards J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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