| Place | Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/00521.001 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Technology |
| Physical description | Brass, Glass, Steel |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1917: Tunnellers at Hill 60 |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Tunneller's inclinometer, or Abney Level : Captain A S Harvey, Royal Engineers
Description
Simple surveyor's theodolite or inclinometer, consisting of a long rectangular sighting tube, finished in black and bearing the maker's name impressed into one side, with a small adjustable brass telescope viewer eyepiece at one end and a glass sight at the other. Mounted atop one end of the body (via a steel mounting plate and brass screws) is a steel semi-circular scale or protractor with engraved angles marked between 0 and 90 degrees. A steel and glass spirit level is located on the right hand side; it is attached to an axle which runs through the centrepoint of the protractor to a steel adjusting wheel with a milled edge mounted on the other side. An indicator plate moves with the level to indicate the measured angle.
History / Summary
This brass and steel Abney Level was of the type used by surveyors and engineers as either an inclinometer or as a simple theodolite. The viewer takes a sighting through the adjustable telescope viewer, while an internal mirror allows the user to see the bubble in the level. It was invented by Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney in about 1870 whilst employed by the School of Military Engineering in Chatham, England. It soon became a simple but essential tool for measuring height, volume, and grade. As such, its use for planning and digging tunnels in an environment such as Hill 60 would have proved invaluable.
This particular example is stored it its original leather carrying case (see REL/00521.002) which is marked 'Captain A S Harvey MC / 255 Company RE'. When acquired the Australian War Memorial was provided with information that Harvey "left Australia with the 11th Battalion as a private". The 255th Company of the Royal Engineers were engaged in tunnelling in the Neuve-Chapelle area in 1916, immediately after they were formed in January 1916, and were relieved by the Australian later that spring. Later, in early 1917, they were at the Vimy front in the Calonne-Souchez area. No evidence can be found for Harvey being with 11 Battalion.