desert goggles

British sun goggles belonging to Edward Marjoram, used in Mesopotamia or, later, India. These goggles were issued to British troops during the Sudan campaigns (1882-98) to protect their eyes from wind, dust and insects. This pair was first issued for the Mesopotamia campaigns in 1915. The oval lenses are of slightly curved, blue glass - 60mm wide by 40mm wide. Each lens is retained in a brown painted aluminium frame 10mm deep and with a cloth protected rim. There are 11 ventilation holes around the top edge. The glass is retained by five pairs of V shaped tabs pressed in from the frame - if the glass had to be replaced, one tab from each pair would be broken and the second tab would then be used to hold the new lens. 'M&Co' is stamped on the top edge of the right frame. A 50mm long, 13mm wide khaki cloth ribbon comes from each frame for tying behind the wearers head.