British Gas masks in WW2 (Combat use)

[Poiter50]

When did the British (& Commonwealth) troops stop wearing Gas Masks into combat? I have some Early War Desert based figures that I want to use for Infantry & support units and they are equipped with Gas Masks.

[Just a few orcs]

From Imperial War Museum website

Second World War period British Army issue gas mask. The Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light was issued from 1943 and first saw operational use with the assault troops during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. More flexible than the earlier General Service Respirator, the filter screwed directly onto the mask, having no connecting hose. Initial issues catered only for those soldiers that could aim and fire their personal weapon at the right shoulder (the filter fitted the left side of the mask), therefore left-handed firers had to retain the earlier pattern masks until supplies of modified masks could become available. The Eyeshields were originally designed to counter the effects of airborne gas delivered as an irritant spray and the tin of Anti-Dimming compound was wiped around the inside of the respirator eyepieces to prevent moisture clouding the glass as the wearer exhaled. The Haversack carrier remained in service with some Territorial battalions until the mid-1970s.

They would only be used in combat if gas was suspected.

[Poiter50]

Thank you but I think my question is more about the General Service Respirator.

From Imperial War Museum website

Second World War period British Army issue gas mask. The Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light was issued from 1943 and first saw operational use with the assault troops during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. More flexible than the earlier General Service Respirator, the filter screwed directly onto the mask, having no connecting hose. Initial issues catered only for those soldiers that could aim and fire their personal weapon at the right shoulder (the filter fitted the left side of the mask), therefore left-handed firers had to retain the earlier pattern masks until supplies of modified masks could become available. The Eyeshields were originally designed to counter the effects of airborne gas delivered as an irritant spray and the tin of Anti-Dimming compound was wiped around the inside of the respirator eyepieces to prevent moisture clouding the glass as the wearer exhaled. The Haversack carrier remained in service with some Territorial battalions until the mid-1970s.

They would only be used in combat if gas was suspected.

[fred]

Are you asking about the respirators being worn on the face, or simply carried in their bags, on the soldiers webbing?

[Poiter50]

Carried in the bags is the mode I'm thinking of.

Are you asking about the respirators being worn on the face, or simply carried in their bags, on the soldiers webbing?

[fred]

At the start of the war the respirator case was worn on the chest - but I?ve only seen this in photos of France 1940, I don?t think I?ve seen this method worn in the Desert.

From then on the respirator case was worn slung at the hip. I think for the rest of the war.

[TacticalPainter]

I know they were worn for longer in the Far East, as it was known that the Japanese had used gas in China. Australians were still conducting gas drills every two weeks in late 1942. This picture is dated late 1942 and you can see the bags still worn on the chest.

[Poiter50]

That's great. Means my K&C KS figs will suit Malaya/Singapore/Burma for 1941/42.

I know they were worn for longer in the Far East, as it was known that the Japanese had used gas in China. Australians were still conducting gas drills every two weeks in late 1942. This picture is dated late 1942 and you can see the bags still worn on the chest.

[HerbertTarkel]

Canadians at Hong Kong, 1941. Gas mask evident.

[Poiter50]

Yep, Hong Kong as well.

Canadians at Hong Kong, 1941. Gas mask evident.