Signalling Collection (#4)

Jack's Visit to Greenwich IV - at the gates, flag signalling, lighting the gun, fencing

Beachy Head view down the cliffs to the sea and lighthouse
The picture looks down from the top of the cliffs over a beach to a lighthouse in the sea and beyond to a small steamer. Lloyds once had a signalling station at the Watch Tower on the cliff

Edinburgh Castle floodlit during the Tattoo, when signalling maroons and rocket were fired. The twin towers of Stewart's College and dome of the Bank of Scotland on left. Date: 1960s

Signal Lamps Catalogue
This image was taken from the front cover of a Signal Lamps catalogue and shows the silhouettes of a train, signal gantry and a lamp

The Nile Expedition for the Relief of General Gordon (engraving)
1045742 The Nile Expedition for the Relief of General Gordon (engraving) by Durand, Godefroy (1832-1896); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Nile Expedition for the Relief of General Gordon)

View of City, from Signal Tower looking West, 1880 circa (b / w photo)
5920190 View of City, from Signal Tower looking West, 1880 circa (b/w photo) by Simpson, Benjamin (1831-1923); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: View of City, from Signal Tower looking West)

Night attack (colour litho)
978984 Night attack (colour litho) by Schmidt, Hans W. (1859-1950) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Night attack. Illustration for Der Weltbrand by Paul Schreckenbach (Weber)

British heliographers, Johannesburg Fort, South Africa, 1901 circa (b / w photo)
5920875 British heliographers, Johannesburg Fort, South Africa, 1901 circa (b/w photo) by Underwood & Underwood (c.1881-1940); National Army Museum

Filling a Signaling Lamp with Gas, Slingersfontein - Boer War, S. A. 1899 circa (b / w photo)
5920847 Filling a Signaling Lamp with Gas, Slingersfontein - Boer War, S.A. 1899 circa (b/w photo) by Underwood & Underwood (c.1881-1940); National Army Museum

Yorkshire Regiment heliograph team signalling from New Zealand Hill, Boer War, 1900 (b / w photo)
5920705 Yorkshire Regiment heliograph team signalling from New Zealand Hill, Boer War, 1900 (b/w photo) by Underwood & Underwood (c.1881-1940); National Army Museum

Signal Tower on Elk Mountain, Maryland, September 1862. Creator: Alexander Gardner
Signal Tower on Elk Mountain, Maryland, September 1862. Albumen print, pl. 22 from the album " Gardners Photographic Sketch Book of the War, Volume I" (1866)

Signal flag with pole, early 20th century. Creator: Unknown
Signal flag on a wooden pole. Singal flag is red and white cut across the diagnol. The red section has three ties that attach the flag to the pole

Flag signalling (chromolitho)
3628358 Flag signalling (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Flag signalling. Illustration for one of a series of cigarette cards on Army Life)

The Russian cruiser Aurora firing the shot signalling the storming of the Winter Palace in Petrograd
6033332 The Russian cruiser Aurora firing the shot signalling the storming of the Winter Palace in Petrograd, Russian Revolution, 25 October 1917 (colour litho) by Carrey

The Relief of Chitral, crossing the Loari Pass (engraving)
1039171 The Relief of Chitral, crossing the Loari Pass (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Relief of Chitral, crossing the Loari Pass)

A Voyage to Melbourne in a Sailing Ship (engraving)
1054846 A Voyage to Melbourne in a Sailing Ship (engraving) by Dollman, John Charles (1851-1934) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Voyage to Melbourne in a Sailing Ship)

Our Coastguard (engraving)
1056273 Our Coastguard (engraving) by Staniland, Charles J. (1838-1916) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Our Coastguard)

Reminiscences of the Easter Monday Review, Sketches on the March to Brighton (engraving)
1624495 Reminiscences of the Easter Monday Review, Sketches on the March to Brighton (engraving) by Courbould, Alfred (fl.1831-75); Private Collection; (add.info)

Through a Head Sea, H Ms "Aurora"signalling a Strange Sail (engraving)
1036438 Through a Head Sea, H Ms " Aurora" signalling a Strange Sail (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: Through a Head Sea)

The defence of London, the Scots Guards and the London Scottish signalling on Parliament Hill (litho)
1039340 The defence of London, the Scots Guards and the London Scottish signalling on Parliament Hill (litho) by Small, William (1843-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Attempt to row across the Channel (litho)
1042511 The Attempt to row across the Channel (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Attempt to row across the Channel)

With Sir Charles Warren in Bechuanaland (engraving)
1041008 With Sir Charles Warren in Bechuanaland (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: With Sir Charles Warren in Bechuanaland)

Military Manoeuvres in Bermuda (engraving)
1048875 Military Manoeuvres in Bermuda (engraving) by Boot, William Henry James (1848-1918) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Military Manoeuvres in Bermuda)

The Nile Expedition (engraving)
1044838 The Nile Expedition (engraving) by Villiers, Frederic (1851-1922) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Nile Expedition)

Notes at the Easter Volunteer Manoeuvres at Dover (engraving)
1050457 Notes at the Easter Volunteer Manoeuvres at Dover (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Notes at the Easter Volunteer Manoeuvres at Dover)

Sketches from our Special Artist En Route to the Zulu War (engraving)
1106602 Sketches from our Special Artist En Route to the Zulu War (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Forsyths Patent Railway Signals (engraving)
1101724 Forsyths Patent Railway Signals (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Forsyths Patent Railway Signals)

Signalling with flags at sea (chromolitho)
1093225 Signalling with flags at sea (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Signalling with flags at sea)

Signal Fires (engraving)
1100977 Signal Fires (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Signal Fires. Illustration for The Illustrated London News)

Henry Clay Drum Corps, 30th May 1889 (b / w photo)
HGL396721 Henry Clay Drum Corps, 30th May 1889 (b/w photo) by Gentieu, Pierre A. (1842-1930); Hagley Museum & Library, Wilmington, Delaware, USA; (add.info.: Village outside Wilmington, Delaware)

Claude Chappes telegraph (colour litho)
2807710 Claude Chappes telegraph (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Claude Chappes telegraph)

A Signal Gantry (colour litho)
2810300 A Signal Gantry (colour litho) by Millar, Harold Robert (1869-1940); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Signal Gantry)

Signalling, 1905 (chromolitho)
2780343 Signalling, 1905 (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Signalling, 1905)

Salmon-Fishing on the Rhine, signalling the Arrival of the Fish (engraving)
2773438 Salmon-Fishing on the Rhine, signalling the Arrival of the Fish (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Salmon-Fishing on the Rhine)

Switzerland - Alpenhorn (Alphorn) - a very long valveless wooden wind instrument played like a horn - used for signalling in the Alps. Date: circa 1910s

Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway - Interior of the Signal cabin. Now the Piccadilly Line on the London Underground network. Date: circa 1906

The first demonstration in 1774 of the electrical telegraph
2619090 The first demonstration in 1774 of the electrical telegraph, invented by Georges-Louis Le Sage, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School

An aerial telegraph system used in England in the 18th century
2619086 An aerial telegraph system used in England in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French

An aerial telegraph post in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science
2619085 An aerial telegraph post in the 18th century, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

The ancient Greek hydraulic semaphore system being used by Aeneas to send a message
2619078 The ancient Greek hydraulic semaphore system being used by Aeneas to send a message, 4th century BC, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (engraving) by French School

Captain Boytons Voyage from Westminster to Greenwich (engraving)
1611685 Captain Boytons Voyage from Westminster to Greenwich (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Captain Boytons Voyage from Westminster to Greenwich)

Signalling for a Pilot (engraving)
1603006 Signalling for a Pilot (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Signalling for a Pilot. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 4 April 1891)

The Electrification of the South London Tramways (b / w photo)
1601074 The Electrification of the South London Tramways (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Electrification of the South London Tramways)

The Signalmans Christmas Dinner on the Railway Line (engraving)
1596957 The Signalmans Christmas Dinner on the Railway Line (engraving) by Forestier, Amedee (1854-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Signalmans Christmas Dinner on the Railway Line)

Her Signal, c. 1892
RCM77701 Her Signal, c.1892 by Garstin, Norman (1847-1926); 155x110 cm; The Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, Cornwall, UK; eRoyal Cornwall Museum; Irish, out of copyright

Flags used at sea for communication, c. 1900 (colour litho)
CHT220328 Flags used at sea for communication, c.1900 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Service Historique de la Marine, Vincennes

Signalling no soap in the bathroom (litho)
5217806 Signalling no soap in the bathroom (litho) by Robinson, William Heath (1872-1944); Private Collection; (add.info.: Signalling no soap in the bathroom)

Man blowing an alphorn in the Alps (b / w photo)
6015573 Man blowing an alphorn in the Alps (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man blowing an alphorn in the Alps)

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"Signalling: A Language of Communication and Control" Flags have long been used as a means of communication, none more famously than at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson's signal flags fluttered high above the HMS Victory, conveying strategic orders that would shape history. Even in peacetime, signalling played a crucial role in transportation. A poster produced for British Railways showcased a railway worker manually operating signals, ensuring safe passage for trains across the vast network. The Royal Navy also relied heavily on signalling to maintain order and coordination at sea. The flags of the navy fluttered proudly atop their ships, symbolizing unity and strength. Speaking of naval history, the majestic HMS Victory was brought into Portsmouth Harbour with great fanfare. Its towering masts adorned with signal flags stood as a testament to its glorious past. In land-based operations too, signalling had its place. Signal lamp men diligently serviced lanterns to guide travelers through darkened streets during the 1930s. One iconic image captured York's Holgate Bridge under London and North Eastern Railway control in 1937 - an intricate web of tracks serving as a visual representation of complex railway junctions where precise signalling was essential for smooth operation. But not all forms of signaling were confined to human hands alone. Carrier pigeons took flight carrying messages across vast distances when other means failed or were unavailable – their wings becoming symbols of hope and connection. Beyond transportation, signals permeate various aspects of life. Mail ship flags fluttering high signaled arrivals from distant lands while artwork depicting cannabinoid receptor binding delved into scientific realms exploring our body's internal communications system. From war cries like Ethiopia's "Call to War" echoing through time to sailors hoisting Union Jack and Red Ensign flags aboard naval vessels – signaling has forever been intertwined with national pride and identity. Whether it be on land or sea, manual or automated systems; whether communicating vital information or displaying allegiance, signalling remains an essential language of communication and control.