Candle-Powered Siege Lamps Are Not ARP Lanterns

A question was recently posed online about the origin and use of a type of lantern that is often sold as being ARP related. The lamps are actually called “Siege Lamps” and a boxed pair of lamps were issued to artillery gun crews so they could sight their gun at night. The lamps would be placed on posts and the angle of the gun barrel to the lamp determined. Then when a bearing was required the gun layer could use a lamp's position as a known bearing.

The lamps continued to be manufactured during the second world war by T.E Bladon and have the W/I\D mark and examples are dated 1942. 

The lamps have been incorrectly described as for use in Anderson Shelters or also for showing the entrance to Public ARP Shelters. However, they have absolutely nothing to do with ARP or Civil Defence.

Image and information Australian War Memorial.

A Siege Lamp - not an ARP lamp