The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
One of the major hurdles to be overcome by the troops in the First World War was the lack of water. The canvas troughs shown were placed near the railway at intervals of about 20 miles. The water was brought up in huge tanks from the canal. The troughs were filled from the water tanks in the train and from there the water was taken by camels in fantasses to the troops. The fantasses were copper or galvanised vessels carrying about 10 gallons.
A line of camels carrying supplies from Serapeum, on the Suez Canal, to the defence post at Bir el Habeita, several miles east in the desert. The camels are possibly carrying flat tanks of water (fan
Camels drinking from the portable canvas water troughs in the desert.
Camels loaded with fantasses (water tanks). This was the usual method of carrying water across the desert. This is a stereo image. One half of the image is held at B02415.
Camels loaded with fantasses (water tanks). This was the usual method of carrying water across the desert. This is one half of a stereo image. The full image is held at B02415A.
Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. c. 1 August 1915. This photograph depicts one of the many difficulties with which our troops were confronted on Gallipoli. Before bringing in troops for the big battle of
Ain Nukhailah, Jebel (Jabal) Hamrin, Mesopotamia. 1918-10. A row of canvas water tanks filled with fresh water by a pump connected to a well. The horse troughs were made ready for the cavalry brigades
