11/23/2023 0 Comments British uniform with gas mask ww1The mask was made of thinly rubberised canvas. A canvas covered rubber hose attached the mask to the canister. The British Small Box Respirator (SBR) was designed in 1916 and began service by the end of the year. To the exterior the Bag bears the name of an American soldier in an aero squadron, and internally it retains its the seldom seen lens de-misting and face mask repairing kits always issued with these. British SBR Small Box Respirator and Bag WW1 Gas Mask. The respirator consisted of a face mask with glass eye-pieces, and was connected to a metal small box filter. Still present also is the often missing length of string which keeps the Bag firmly held to the chest when at the “alert”. First introduced in August 1916 and standard issue by the spring of 1917, the Small Box Respirator was the most advanced and practical anti-gas development used by British and Dominion forces in the First World War. Then the webbing shoulder strap is once more complete and undamaged, as is the all important leather tab to the side which holds the Bag in the “alert” position. In the first instance it is nicely British Government “broad arrow” marked and dated 1917. The Bag for this Small Box Respirator is no less pleasing. Also present and complete is the delicate rubber mouth piece.Įxternally the elastic straps which hold the face mask to the head remain strong. The face mask size is a good size “3” and internally the nose clip is still present and complete with its gauze pads. The hose though twisted is undamaged, and the fragile face mask is only pierced in a couple of very small inconspicuous places below the chin. It remains however a better than average example. As is often the case the invariably brittle small rubber valve at the corner join of the mask to the hose has disintegrated and the filter has rusted through in certain places due to the internal chemicals degrading. It has though suffered a few of the usual ravages of time pretty much always encountered on any surviving examples of these. This example is complete and in good condition for the type. It was issued to all British and Commonwealth troops, as well as to other Armies such as the Americans and Italians. It was a huge leap forward in gas protection at the time, far outstripping in effectiveness any other gas protection in existence on either side of the conflict. A good example of the rare WW1 British "Small Box Respirator” Gas Mask and bagįirst introduced in late 1916 to provide reliable protection against chlorine and phosgene gas, it replaced the less effective PH “Gas Helmet” to become a classic part of the silhouette of the allied soldier for the second half of WW1.
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