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Picture courtesy of the Scouts Heritage Collection

I had the opportunity on Monday to photograph a piece of the insulated wire used at Mafeking to create a network of connected telephones that provided BP with information on what was happening around the town. The are many account in the Mafeking texts of people trying to lay the wire and repair them and also how the phone network played a vital part in the defence of the town.

"Our bomb-proof headquarters and telephone exchange was a queer dark hole in which an officer was always on duty, and most of the staff passed many weary hours there." (Sketches in Mafeking & East Africa)

This example is in excellent condition and includes a tag which says 'Improvised telephone wire from Mafeking given by ex SM Lyle RE'.

My grateful thanks to the Scouts Heritage Collection for allowing me access to this historic Mafeking artefact.

Fascinating to see this in the flesh, it brings the b&w texts to life. Thank you for sharing it, priceless.

Owen