WW2 Civil Defence Anti-Gas Equipment
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Prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939 the Air Raid Precautions Department at the Ministry of Home Defence prepared the country for the likely use of poison and gas munitions. Of the first seven ARP handbook booklets published, six were dedicated to mitigating against the use of gas munitions (for example, Air Raid Precautions Handbook No. 1 was Personal Protection Against Gas and Handbook No. 4 was Decontamination of Materials).
The likelihood of gas and poison weapons being dropped by the enemy was thought to be highly likely and local authorities were tasked with building up decontamination teams and seeking Gas Identification officers (usually trained chemists). The decontamination squads were kitted out with full body covering protective oil skins, gloves and special helmet curtains. They appear to wear standard gum boots. Gas Identification Officers (GIO) and their assistants were also supplied with the protective anti-gas suit and a number of testing kits for determining the type of gas/poison munition. |
A member of a First Aid Party wearing the protective anti-gas oil skins
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WW2 Gas Detector Kit
Gas Identification Officer kit to determine what kind of gas was being emitted from a shell.
WW2 Mk. II Mustard Gas Vapour Detector
A simplified MK II gas vapour detector introduced in 1942. This could be utilised by wardens as well as by gas contamination squads.
WW2 Anti-Gas Gloves
Protection for the hands and also covers to protect the gloves when doing heavier work.
WW2 Mk. II Anti-Gas Eye Shields
Eye shields, anti-gas, Mk II. Issued to protect the eyes from liquid irritant sprayed from enemy aircraft.
Anti-Gas Eye Shields - Tinted
Similar to the clear version above these anti-gas protection eye shields were tinted for working in bright sun light, The poppers attach at the ends and create quite a good seal around the eyes.
