It is not known who or even which side in the conflict first had the idea, but soldiers on both sides seem to have been using periscopes from early in the 1914-1918 war.
Sergeant William Beech - May 1915
2nd Battalion Australian Imperial Force
Rifleman and Spotter using a periscope.
During the Gallipoli Campaign Sergeant Beech joined together a SMLE .303" rifle and a periscope on a timber frame (he was a builder/foreman in civilian life) using the mirrors image to align the rifles sights on target - and used a string to pull the trigger. These 'periscope rifles' are reputed to have been useable out to a hundred yards range.
This type of arrangement was soon widely adopted by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) who set-up an expedient production unit on the beach at Anzac Cove.
I can remember playing with a toy cardboard periscope as a kid - maybe my dad made it for me or bought it.
- Way back in history Johannes Gutenberg (he of early printed books) marketed a form of periscope in the 1430s for use in crowds at religious festivals.
Array of Periscope Trench Rifles from Springfield Armoury.
I used to protest that it was laziness that was the "mother of invention" but this proves that indeed it is "necessity" for sure.
Marty K
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