FACTSHEETS

GAS MASKS

In the lead up to the war, the government was convinced that the Nazis would attack the UK with gas bombs. Everyone, even babies, was supplied with a gas mask, and people had to practice putting it on, in gas drills.

There were four types of gas mask that the government gave to people who were not in the armed forces (the army, navy or air force). These were:

• The infant gas masks for 0-2 year olds.
• The Mickey Mouse gas mask for two to five year olds.
• Civilian respirators.

Duty civilian respirators, for people who had jobs to do during gas attacks, like nurses and ARP wardens.

Children’s gas masks were called Mickey Mouse masks and were designed to look colourful and fun.

As people had to wear gas masks all the time, they tried to make them look smarter. Society ladies could often be seen with a patent leather handbag that had been made to carry a gas mask, perhaps on a night out.