In total, more than 29 million M-2 gas masks were issued, and these were used by the French as well as American, Italian, and Belgian forces. Thus the glass layer was eventually removed, making for yet another variation that is encountered today. After a half-hour of wear, the eyepieces could fog over. Soon after its introduction, a design flaw was discovered with the second model of the M-2 gas mask. The subsequent version, the second model-something that causes confusion as both are still known as the M-2-incorporated two circular eyepieces that were double-layered with an outer glass layer along with an inner cellophane layer. The first model was made in only a single size and featured a single panoramic eyepiece made of cellophane. This consisted of an all-in-one unit that featured a chemically impregnated pad made up of many layers along with a built-in eyepiece. But a single solution was found it would become the M-2 gas mask. By October of 1915, it was reported that some 100 different devices were tested. The results were not good as gas could easily penetrate the goggles, causing serious eye irritation. The French meanwhile first used protective goggles and a filter over the mouth. At various points, the troops actually took to wearing women’s tights as a form of protection. No successful or effective countermeasure was found during the war, and this made Scottish Highland regiments especially vulnerable as they were still wearing kilts in the trenches. This was mustard gas, which caused severe damage simply by making contact with the skin. It is also worth noting that one form of gas was so deadly that no gas mask was truly effective. It is also worth noting that the LBRs were apparently produced in large numbers as these were issued to rearguard troops and artillery personnel. The system offered the benefit that the SBR could be upgraded as more effective filter technology was introduced. The box filter was actually worn around the neck in a canvas carrying bag. However, the LBR’s development led to the SBR, which featured a single-piece, close-fitting rubberized mask with eyepieces. This dubious hood was finally superseded by the main British gas mask of the First World War, the Small Box Respirator (SBR)-although interestingly enough the first version was known as the Large Box Respirator (LBR), which proved to be too bulky, as it needed a box canister to be carried on the back. More importantly, this later version offered improved chemical impregnation, but it was still a dreadful solution, made worse because the impregnating solution sometimes was so thickly applied that it made a sticky mess. This was still basically a bag that was worn over the head but it featured two mica eyepieces to allow users to see-whereas the original smoke hood had the single visor. It was essentially a khaki-colored flannel bag soaked in a solution of glycerin and sodium thiosulphate-thus a “hypo solution.” It was meant to protect against chlorine directly and thus couldn’t protect against other gases, notably phosgene, which was developed over the summer of 1915 and proved far more powerful than chlorine while being relatively difficult to detect.įor this gas, the British developed the “P helmet”-also known as the PHG or PH helmet, which was officially called the Tube Helmet as the wear had an exhalation valve for the mouth. But interestingly these were not the first true “gas masks.” These early “gas masks” were nothing more than cotton wool pads or cloth soaked in water or in many cases urine. As a result, Allied forces tried to respond and struggled to find effective countermeasures. So devastating was this attack that it almost allowed for a German breakthrough. This attack caused a panic leading to a massive retreat, which was only brought under control by the Canadian forces.
When inhaled it destroyed the alveoli of the lungs, causing men to essentially “drown” on the liquid created by their own bodies. The first chlorine gas attack, which hit French Colonial and Canadian troops, appeared as a yellowish-green cloud. But it was that calm April day that marked how devious a weapon gas could be, and while the truth is that gas actually killed very few combatants when compared to the vast numbers who gave their lives in the war (according to some sources as many as 93 percent of gas casualties returned to duty within a few weeks), it was quite a success as a psychological weapon. While the first widespread use of poison gas occurred on April 22, 1915, near Ypres, there had been previous small experiments by the Germans in the weeks prior.
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