WW1 MILITARY COMPASS, 1915

A prismatic Compass has a prism above the scale to enable accurate readings.
The cover hinges up and has a hairline across its glass front, this is lined up with a sighting slot on the other side.
Viewing through the sight and aligning the hairline with two distant known landmarks one at a time, enables the user to obtain their position on a map, by creating a triangle between the position of the two landmarks, and the compass readings taken and drawn on the map.

Donated by Francis Pitkin, this item was used by Mr Pitkin's father

A1033

WWII ASTRO COMPASS Mk 2

Compass for direction using astronomical bodies such as stars. It was particularly useful when flying near the polar regions, where magnetic compasses could be unreliable. See also Mk1X AM Bubble Sextant Item A1600

Donated by Mr K W Quarman

A0910

WWII BUTTON COMPASS

Buttons sewn on Uniforms but when removed may be used as a compass

( Compasses and other devises would be confiscated on capture )

The plastic version could be hung on a thread, known as swinger button. The other two button version would be put one on the top of the other as one has a pin in it's centre.
The top has a magnetic dot luminous, and two other luminous dots on the other side the same as the plastic version.

A1121

WWII PRISMATIC COMPASS Mk 3, 1943

Soldiers standard issue compass for WW2 and WW1.

A0508