The Beacon Man at War (Colour Litho)

The lighthouse man in the war. In the woods of northern Finland, where the Arctic night reigns, light is only needed when it is time to fire. In each platoon, there are two or three lighthouse men, with a powerful pendant reflector on their chest. These men, chosen among the most valiant (so that the lighthouse is a kind of honor) are the predestined for death. When contact has been made with the enemy, the lighthouse man is isolated; the rest of the troop moves away, sheltering the wings behind fir trunks. The lighthouse man turns on, searches the darkness in front. For him they are the first opposing shots. But the comrades, sliding quickly, with the faithful reindeer, in the shady area bordering the channel of light of the reflector, take themselves a short distance from the dazzled enemy and with machine-gun guns, they mow... Illustration for Courier Sunday, 17-23 December 1939.