| Gas had been used with terrifying effects in World War One by
both sides. In the end, no gas attacks took place in the air raids, but everyone
had been issued with gas masks, and carried them in case of danger. Children and
babies had their own 'styles'. A set of cigarette cards of the time suggested a
method of making a door safe. One wonders how effective this would have been.
The next three recollections are from The
War Years, and are used with permission)
Maureen McCusker (from Dolphin Lane
school)
A cardboard box holding a gas mask was a necessity. We had to hold them up
after registration and a handkerchief in the other hand – much importance
was put on having a clean hanky – sometimes even pinned to our jumper.
Eunice Essex (née
Nicolle)
I remember we attended school either mornings or afternoons and we were
encouraged to wear our gas masks. My sister Brenda was seven and she hated
it. She would not put it on if she could get out of it. I remember how
horrible and smelly they were – like very strong rubber. Younger children
had masks like Mickey Mouse.
Margaret Linforth (née
Manning)
When the war first started we
didn’t have to come to school for a few weeks. Then we must remember
to bring our gas masks and we must wear our ‘Identity Tags’ round our
necks!!
Information from a set of Churchman's cigarette cards by Peter Risbey
Poster from the National Archives website
What
to do about gas leaflet from the E. Chambre Hardman archive |
