Northumbrian Gunner: Ex Trenches Reflect

Around 17:00 22nd April 1915 the Germans released Chlorine Gas near the hamlet of Gravenstafe, 5 km north of Ypres. The gas had been carried in 5,730 cylinders which were opened by hand, the prevailing wind carrying the gas towards the French and British troops dug in on the northern edge of the Ypres Salient.

Germans releasing Gas Ypres 22nd April 1915

Gas from cylinders

This was the first successful use of gas in warfare and it's effect caused many casualties amongst the French Territorials and Moroccan Divisions and caused them to flee the battlefield. To their east, the Canadians held firm, improvising crude protection to allow them to stay in position

Canadian soldiers Gas Attack April 1915

The use of Gas led to the hasty development of protection.

Source: Soldier of Fortue http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/

One of the earliest gas masks to offer protection from gas attacks was first used in May 1915, the "Black Veil Respirator" .The basic design offered limited protection from poisonous gasses and only effective if used and worn correctly, so it was only efficient when used by well-disciplined soldiers.

The respirator was basically a face mask filled with wool waste which was impregnated with Sodium Hyposulphite, Sodium Carbonate, Glycerine and water. The impregnated wool padded section was part of a length of cotton, the rest of the length cotton was used to tie the mask around the face. Rubber gas goggles were issued with the Black Veil mask

Black Veil Respirator and Goggles

Black Veil Respirator

Gas Goggles

Eventually the "Black Veil Respirator" was replaced by the WW1 British Army Smoke/Hypo hood. The Smoke hood was also known as the Hypo Helmet. The original smoke hood was made of grey flannel fabric with a celluloid one-piece window. The grey flannel helmet was dipped in sodium hyposulphite (which is where it gets it Hypo helmet name from) which would prevent certain gases getting through the hood. The Hypo helmet did not protect against lachrymators (Tear Gas).

Although the design was an improvement over the Black Veil Respirator it was still not the best designed anti gas hood as it was too stuffy to wear for long periods of time. The Smoke hood was first issued on May 8th 1915.

Smoke Hood

The Smoke hood was eventually replaced by the improved HP Hood. The P Hood and the PH Hood were also called the P Helmet and PH Helmet.

The P Hood and the PH Hood are the same (gas masks) Helmets,the only difference is that the later pattern was dipped in an extra chemical for extra protection.

The P (Phenate) Helmet first appeared in July 15th 1915 and replaced the H (Hypo) Helmet/Hood. It was an improvement over the H Helmet by having two glass (mica) eyepieces instead of the single one-piece visor and a exhaust valve fed from a metal tube which the soldier held in his mouth on the inside. It was also made from a double layer Greyback wool fabric one layer was impregnated with chemicals the other layer was not.The cloth on the P Helmet was dipped in Sodium Phenolate and Glycerin which protected the soldier from Chlorine and Phosgene.

PH Hood

The First use of poison gas by the British was the in the Battle of Loos 25 September – 15 October 1915

Battle of Loos 25th September 1915

The PH (Phenate Hexamine) Helmet replaced the P Helmet in October 31st 1915 and was the same but was also dipped with added chemical Hexamethylene Tetramine which greatly improved the wearer against Phosgene and added protection from Hydrocyanic Acid. It was replaced by the SBR but it did remain in service with second line troops, until the end of the war.

The British Small Box Respirator (SBR) was designed in 1916 and began service by the end of the year.

British Small Box Respirator (SBR)

A canvas covered rubber hose attached the mask to the canister. The mask was made of thinly rubberised canvas. The whole lot was contained in the canvas bag. The bag was hung from an adjustable strap.