WW2 Memorabilia
Mr Ron Hill from Alford, Lincolnshire is a collector of World War 1 and World War 2 Memorabilia.
He was exhibiting part of his collection at the Spilsby Show 2006, and kindly agreed to a video interview about items in his collection.
Mr Hill tells us that this is a baby’s gas mask which would have been used during a gas attack in World War 2.
The baby was placed inside the compartment and could be viewed through the viewing window. He explained that the bellows had to be pumped continually or the baby would suffocate. The operator would keep a watchful eye on the baby through the viewing window.
The next item is a child’s gas mask in a metal cannister. These superseded the cardboard cannisters. Mr Hill explained that the string which held the gas mask round the neck used to come astray and the cardboard cannisters used to get damaged. So they were replaced by metal ones.
This is also a child’s gas mask. It is an American type Micky Mouse gas mask. Children wouldn’t wear the conventional masks so these were made to make them more attractive to the children.
The next exhibit is a military gas mask.
This is a police gas mask.
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