Figure 1.--Here a teacher explaining to younger children how to put on their gas masks. We think this is the nasks made to look like Mickey Mouse. One wonders how the teacher explsined to the children how there were people trying to gas them. The photograph is undated, but was probably taken in September 1939. Source: "The Times". (The London Times was a string supporter of Primeminister Chamberlain and his policy of appeaement.

There were special masks for infants unable to wear a mask and special masks for younger children. The standard mask were of course terrifying for many of the younger children. The masks were issued by family groups. Eacg family was notified where to come to get their masks. The children were expected to bring their masks to school and then taken back home. They caried them in card board boxes which had string to put over their shoulders. The teachers helped teach the children how to fit and use the masks. Children at school practiced using the masks so they would be prepared if a gas attack ever came. A British reader writes, "Back to the gas masks. First an explanation on how to fix it. Next fitting it and then lots of practice by the children fixing it. I think a timed game would have been organised once the little ones knew how to put it on. Once on the boys would have made horrible noises and scared one another and the girls, playing monsters." I am not entirely sure about this. At the time I think teachers wre more serious. I am not sure that playing around would have been permitted. One wonders what the teachers must have told the the younger children who must have had a multitude of questions. Imagine having to tell a 6-year old that there were people coming to gas them. Suely that must have resulted in nightmares.

Types

There were several different types of gas masks, including some special types for the younger children. There were special masks for infants unable to wear a mask and special masks for younger children. Older children had the same style as the adults, only in smaller sizes. The standard mask were of course terrifying for many of the younger children. The masks were issued by family groups. A reader who was a boy at the time writes, " As far as I can remember, the Mickey Mouse masks were just like the omes pictured here (figure 1). We (my brother and I) were jealous though, as the 'important people' had gas masks with goggle eyes. They had the elephant trunk type mask though. These were the Civil Defence people with more efficient filters contained in a satchel hung around their necks and held against their chests."

Carrying the Masks

The masks were not destributed at school. Each family was notified where to come to get their masks. The children were expected to bring their masks to school and then taken back home. They caried them in card board boxes which had string to put over their shoulders. Adults were fined if caught without their masks. We are not sure how the children were dealt with.

School Activities

Parents were expected to teach the children how towears the masks. The children were required to take the masks to school with them. The teachers also helped teach the children how to fit and use the masks. Children at school practiced using the masks so they would be prepared if a gas attack ever came. Here the approach varied somewhat according to the age of the children. The effort was most complicated for the younger children. Thevchildren not only had to mlear how to put them on quickly, but to get used to wearing them. Most English children began school at age 6 years. There were also some younger children in nursery school. A British reader describes what may have went on at school. "Back to the gas masks. First an explanation on how to fix it. Next fitting it and then lots of practice by the children fixing it. I think a timed game would have been organised once the little ones knew how to put it on. Once on the boys would have made horrible noises and scared one another and the girls, playing monsters." I am not entirely sure about this. At the time I think teachers wre more serious. I am not sure that playing around would have been permitted. Another reader tells us, "We did have 'Gas mask Drill' and races to see who would win. This was a diversion when we were in the shelter at school during raids or 'mock' raids."

Questions and Thoughts

One wonders what the teachers must have told the the younger children who must have had a multitude of questions. Imagine having to tell a 6-year old that there were people coming to gas them. Suely that must have resulted in nightmares. Our reader tells us, "I think the school grape vine told us what was happening. I was 9 yeats old at the time and I fon't remember being especially scared. I'm less sure about the younger children. We were pretty clued up about war and gas, from hearing stories about World War I. It was after all not that long ago in those days, so older brothers who had been in the conflict told their younger siblings, and so the stories spread."

Created: 7:17 AM 12/23/2009
Last updated: 12:48 AM 7/30/2010