War and Children

[Slipdigit]

I saw this pic on this website. Gateway to the World - PortCities Southampton.

It is just so sad to me and cannot imagine having to teach my daughters to wear one of these. I wonder how much comfort the baby-doll gave her?

[Owen]

My Mum & Uncle talk about when they had to wear those, I think they called them "Mickey Mouse " gasmasks to make them seem fun.
.>. BBC - Children of World War 2


My Auntie who was only a baby had to go in one of these...


I see the Americans had a real Mickey Mouse one.
http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/USA-Mil-Mikey.htm

[Harry Ree]

These were the precautions against gas attack which the British Home Office prepared the civilian population for, from as early as 1938.The respirators issued for infants and children were indeed as shown and were popularly known as "Micky Mouse" gas masks and were red in colour.Babies had the respirator which were of black material and totally sealed off the baby and were known as "Incubators" unlike the IWM photograph type which does not show total sealing.These respirators for babies required a second person to pump air into the respirator, a task which everyone in a household, including older siblings were trained for.

Adults were issued with a normal type face respirator and there was considerable concern in the early part of the war that the Germans would use gas.Everyone was expected to take their own respirator with them during absences from their home.Those in the forces were subject to a charge if found without their respirator in their possession.This mandatory requirement was eased as the war went on when it became apparent that Hitler would not use gas for fear of retaliation

I would add that these precautions were not seen by US citizens and in Great Britain, there was the added danger of being bombed.However the danger to British chidren from the facets of war was far removed from those children on the continent and the Eastern front caught up in warfare and subject to occupation by a brutal enemy.

They were all truly veterans of war.

[marcus69x]

A brilliant Idea on behalf of the americans. marcus

[ADM199]

Didn´t get one of those just a bog standard one. Mum bought me a decent container though,not one of the cardboard ones. Also remember getting told off at school when I turned up without it.

[ChrisM]

I had a coloured Mickey Mouse one and was forced to put it on to try it when I was three or four. Ghastly thing. Horrible smell of rubber and, far worse, the feeling that you couldn't breathe. Fortunately, by some miracle, it never had to be used in anger although it was taken everywhere in its little leatherette case for a long period. I wonder what happened to it. I still have an adult's one which looks equally uninviting.

Chris

[Slipdigit]

To those of you who had one of these things:
Did you really understand at the time what they were for?

[kfz]

Aerial Bombing of children, I cant comprehend what that must have been like. No wonder 'the bomber will always get through' mentality of the 30's was so hard to dislodge. When you read modern historical texts where they pore scorn on the continued faith of the bomber, have they really thought about what it actually does. They are right of course it doesnt work because its just so effective it achieves the opposite effect. Its madness.


Kev

[4th wilts]

my nans house was blown up while she was in the nissan shelter in the back garden,30yds away,and they were waiting for the gas with their masks on.yours,lee.

[read46]

Originally Posted by ADM199

Didn´t get one of those just a bog standard one. Mum bought me a decent container though,not one of the cardboard ones. Also remember getting told off at school when I turned up without it.

I taught in a large Primary School in Blackpool Lancashire and during the early 1970's. Two of us were tasked to clear out a rather large sort of attic store room by the headteacher.
It really was an 'Aladin's cave', a real living museum.
Amongst many other things we unearthered a large cardboard box containing childrens gas masks, each in a brown cardboard box container.
I often wonder what happened to them and really wish that one had accidentally slipped out and found it's way into the boot of my Morris Minor.