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A member of the Wardens Service fitting a gas mask
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A member of the Wardens Service fitting a gas mask
Shorlty after the Munich Agreement, a member of the Wardens Service (and his assistant - far right) - not yet issued with their uniforms - fit gas masks in the living room of a family in Sunderland. A typical interior scene of the period, on which the reproduction of Orchardsons picture Toasting the Bride in the oval frame casts an ironic comment. Date: circa November 1938
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Media ID 23394932
© The John Hinde Archive / Stephen Bourne / Mary Evans
1938 Defence Fitting Grandmother Hinde Homefront Living Mask Masks Member Sunderland Wardens
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, a member of the local Wardens Service, accompanied by an assistant, enters the cozy living room of a family in Sunderland, England, to fit them with gas masks. The scene is set in the late 1930s, shortly after the Munich Agreement, as tensions continued to rise in Europe leading up to World War II. The Wardens Service, an essential part of the civil defense effort, was responsible for educating the public about air raid precautions and distributing gas masks. The photograph captures a sense of urgency and preparation as the Wardens Service members fit the masks on the family members, including a mother, daughter, child, and grandmother. The domestic interior, with its typical furnishings of the period, provides a stark contrast to the ominous presence of the gas masks. The reproduction of Orchardson's painting "Toasting the Bride" in the oval frame on the wall casts an ironic comment on the scene, reminding us of the fragility of peace and the sudden disruption of everyday life. The photograph offers a glimpse into the home front experience during wartime, a time when families were called upon to make sacrifices and adapt to the challenges of defending their communities. The Wardens Service members, yet to be issued with their uniforms, embody the spirit of volunteerism and community service that characterized the civil defense efforts during this period. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the preparations and sacrifices made by families during the build-up to World War II.
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