Strombos compressed air gas alarm release handle : Australian Corps School, AIF

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number RELAWM04089.002
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Brass
Maker JC Co Ltd
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Circular cast brass handle, with knurled outer face. The inner section has been lightened with six holes, and features and square-section centre hole for locating over the square release valve post on the Strombos compressed air tank. There are no markings.

History / Summary

No specific history is known of this Strombos compressed air gas alarm, apart from its use with the Australian Corps School as a training aid. This training complex was located near Aveluy in the Ancre Valley, France.

Contemporary accounts note that the Strombos compressed air gas alarm had a penetrating sound which could be heard for up to three to four miles (4.8 to 6.5 kilometres). Enough air was held in the cylinder to allow a full minute-long alarm to be sounded. The design of this alarm originated in the United States of America for use on locomotives and ships.