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Gas masks of 1915
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Gas masks of 1915
Photograph showing two gas masks in 1915, (above); a cotton-wool pad of April 1915 and (below); Hypo Helmet gas-mask of November. The first use of poison gas on the Western Front was on 22 April 1915, by the Germans at Ypres, against Canadian and French colonial troops. The initial response was to equip troops with cotton mouth pads called the Black Veil Respirator. Dr. Cluny MacPherson of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment brought the idea of a mask made of chemical absorbing fabric which fitted over the entire head, this was developed into the British Hypo Helmet of June 1915.
1915
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Media ID 14109983
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures two iconic gas masks used during the First World War, symbolizing the brutal and evolving nature of the conflict. Above, a cotton-wool pad, or Black Veil Respirator, from April 1915, was an initial response to the first use of poison gas on the Western Front by the Germans against Canadian and French colonial troops at Ypres. The initial reaction was to equip soldiers with makeshift protective measures, such as this cotton mask, which offered limited protection against the deadly gases. Below, the Hypo Helmet, developed in June 1915, represented a significant improvement in gas mask technology. Dr. Cluny MacPherson of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment brought the idea of a mask made of chemical absorbing fabric which fitted over the entire head. This innovation was developed into the British Hypo Helmet, providing better protection against the toxic gases. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the relentless innovation and adaptation that characterized the First World War, as both sides sought to gain the upper hand in the deadly chemical warfare that defined this period in history.
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