Field Artillery Telescope

This First World War Field Artillery telescope was manufactured by Ryland & Son of London in 1917 together with its 1916 Siemens Brothers stand. It was kindly donated to the museum by the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth but it is not known how it came into their possession.

During the First World War (1914–1918), telescopes played a crucial role for snipers and artillery observation in identifying enemy positions and potential targets. Observers often elevated themselves in surviving buildings or balloons to gain a panoramic view, calculate target ranges, track artillery fire, and relay adjustments to their units.

For field observation, the telescope could be attached to the stand or tripod which is dated 1916 and manufactured in London by Siemens. It has a fixed bronze plate marked 0 to 180° Right and 0 to 180° Left to aid bearings and upon this rests a moving plate to which the telescope is fitted. This is marked with an arrow enabling a traverse reading to right or left. A small spirit level is also present together with a gauge reading the telescope's angle of elevation or depression to +10 and -10°.