Gas helmet for head wounds : German Army Accession Number: RELAWM12279.001

Description

Specialised German Army gas helmet for head wound sufferers ('Gasschutzhaube fur Kopfverletzte'). The helmet is a loose fitting bag covering the head and shoulders. It is made of rubberized cotton fabric, the seams of which are reinforced with crudely applied clear latex. There is a 185 x 235 mm internal panel of grey flannel fabric stitched to the rear of the mask behind the eyepieces and canister socket. The eyepieces are similar to those fitted to the standard German 'snouter' or 'Schutzmaske' gas mask, made of two layers of clear celluloid set in painted circular steel frames with leather gaskets where they are let into the mask. Internally, the eyepieces have circular white fabric pads and the usual screw out metal 'wheels' which enable the eyepieces to be replaced. The grey painted circular steel canister socket (no canister is present, as this would prevent the helmet from being folded to fit in its carrying case) is designed to take the standard German canister with 'Osram' thread. There is a rubber sealing gasket at the top of the socket, and a circular plate with a series of holes around the circumference and a large central opening in front of the wearer's mouth. Attached to the central rear of the helmet above the neck is a 2 metre length of grey cotton webbing tape, possibly to tie under the arms, preventing the fabric from lifting out from under the wearer's tunic. Inside the left hand shoulder section is a stamped marking in black which appears to read '29188 P- (or 'R') S-A VIII' and a green numeral '430'.

Contextual Description

The German Army gas helmet for head wound sufferers, or 'Gasschutzhaube fur Kopfverletzte', was in service between 1916 and 1918. It was designed to allow those suffering from head wounds or injuries to be protected from the effects of poison gas without the need to wear a tightly fitting, and possibly harmful, gasmask. The helmet was carried by medical personnel, folded in a grey painted metal case with a Red Cross marking. When packed, no filter canister was fitted, as its depth would have prevented the helmet from fitting into the case. The screw-in canister from the standard tight-fitting German rubber or leather 'Schutzmaske', with thread pattern devised and mass produced by 'Osram' for its light bulbs and fittings, was used. This gas helmet and its case were donated by the Mitchell Library, but a blue pencil marking on the case which reads 'Major Wesley' may relate to Major Charles Herbert Wesley, who served in the Australian Army Medical Corps during the First World War.