Black Veil Respirator facts for kids
The Black Veil Respirator was an early type of gas mask used by British soldiers during World War I. It was designed by a scientist named John Scott Haldane and first given to troops in May 1915.
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A New Kind of Danger
During World War I, a new and terrible weapon appeared on the battlefield: poison gas. On April 22, 1915, the German army used chlorine gas for the first time. This happened during the Second Battle of Ypres. This gas was very dangerous and caused a lot of harm to the Allied soldiers.
Soldiers needed protection quickly. At first, British troops were given simple cotton pads wrapped in cloth. They had to hold these over their mouths. But this was not very effective. A better solution was needed fast.
How the Black Veil Respirator Was Made
Just a few weeks after the first gas attack, the Black Veil Respirator was introduced. It was invented by John Scott Haldane, a British scientist. This new mask was a big step forward from just holding a cloth.
The Black Veil Respirator was a cotton pad. This pad was soaked in a special liquid. The liquid contained chemicals like sodium hyposulphate, sodium carbonate, and glycerine. These chemicals helped to absorb the harmful gas.
The pad was held over the mouth using black cotton fabric. This fabric also had a purpose. It could be pulled up to cover the eyes. This offered some protection against gases that made soldiers' eyes water.
Using the Black Veil
The special liquid in the mask stayed wet enough on its own. This meant soldiers did not need to dip it in water before using it. They just had to keep it in its special waterproof bag.
The Black Veil Respirator was first given to soldiers on May 20, 1915. It had a small pouch for the pad. It also had a string to tie the mask to the soldier's face. This made it much better than holding a cloth by hand.
Its Challenges and Replacement
Even though it was an improvement, the Black Veil Respirator had some problems. It was not very strong and could break easily. Soldiers also needed training to use it correctly. Because they were worried about the mask falling off, soldiers often stood very still. This made it hard for them to move around during battle.
Most importantly, the Black Veil Respirator only offered limited protection. It could not fully protect soldiers from chlorine gas. Because of these issues, it was soon replaced.
The British Smoke Hood came next. This was a canvas hood that went over a soldier's head. It was also treated with chemicals to absorb gas. Cluny MacPherson invented this new hood. After the Smoke Hood arrived, the Black Veil Respirator was only kept as an emergency backup.
