#Dog gas mask wwi skin#

Chlorine gas spreads across the Ypres battlefield in April 1915 as photographed by an RFC aircraft (Photo Source: Royal Air Force Museum)Ĭhlorine gas is nasty as it reacts with water in a persons lungs and eyes to form hydrochloric acid which can cause coughing, vomiting, severe eye irritation and death at higher concentrations. In April 1915 they fired chlorine gas into French lines near Ypres, which resulted in a large cloud of gas that was morale crushing as it caused panic and death amongst the French and colonial soldiers (more than 1,100 died). It was Germany that eventually put gas warfare to more effective and deadly use as a disruptive tactic before an assault. British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops temporarily blinded by tear gas, await treatment at an Advanced Dressing Station near Bethune during the Battle of Estaires, April 10th, 1918 – part of the German offensive in Flanders (Photo Source: Imperial War Museum) Gas masks helped prevent the symptoms of tear gas. The Germans first used tear gas in January 1915 during an artillery attack on Russian lines but it proved to be next to useless when it froze in the cold air and did not disperse at all. Tear gas was not deadly and was intended to be used to incapacitate an enemy during an attack as it could cause serious irritation to the nose and throat and even temporary blindness. The French first used tear gas grenades in August 1914 in an attempt to rout German lines but had little effect. So I decided it was time to look into this in more detail. I had never really read much about the types of gas deployed on the battlefields of World War One, other than knowing predominately about mustard gas. The PH-Helmet first entered use in October 1915 and featured a double layered gas-permeable hood worn over the head which was treated with chemicals to protect against chlorine, phosgene and hydrochloric acid (photo taken during my January 2016 visit) Allied and German World War One gas masks at the Australian War Memorial highlight the progression of designs to protect from poisonous gas (photo taken during my January 2016 visit) Allied and German World War One gas masks including a German dog gas mask and a Small Box Respirator (introduced in February 1916 it worked much better than earlier designs against high concentrations of phosgene) at the Australian War Memorial (photos taken during my January 2016 visit) Things haven’t changed much in a hundred years: A modern-day gas mask vs a World War One PH Helmet (Phenate Hexamine) at the Australian War Memorial. The variations of gas masks to protect soldiers and animals such as dogs and horses from this hideous weapon are quite interesting but it got me thinking about the gas itself. I was recently exploring the Centenary of World War One exhibits (1914 to 1918) at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and was particularly interested in the fascinating array of gas masks for man and beast alike. Foul bloody stuff! A dreaded gas attack of World War One It would settle upon the trenches and cause total panic.

#Dog gas mask wwi skin#

Blinding, gaseous poison that could burn the skin whilst destroying lungs in a single breath, leading to a slow, painful, choking death. The call to don a mask is roared out along the line, “ It’s the dreaded gas boys!“. Enemy artillery shells come screaming in and crashing about, bringing a thunderous nightmare! Soon an eerie great cloud drifts slowly towards the trenches.