For Gustaf B here are some of my collection of British Gas Helmets.
From May of 1915 to the summer of 1916 the primary Gas defence of the British Army was the Gas Helmet. In fact the Helmets were retained as secondary Gas defence into 1918.
There were 4 Types in use, the Hypo, P, PH and PHG
Here are some examples of Hypo, P and PH helmets.
The "Hypo" was single layer of flannel with the eye piece of the same material that Film stock is made out of. (the very first helmets had mica windows but these were not too good). These were in service from May 1915 till Sept. 1915 as primary defences and then secondary for some time afterwards. This Helmet and first pattern satchel (June 1915) were issued to Sjt B. Coates.
The last batch of Hypo helmets used the screw-on glass eye pieces that would be standard on P and Ph helmets. The Flannel was still single layer. This Helmet was also issued to Sjt B Coates. He managed to save most of the Gas Defences issued toi him including two rare variants of the Hypo Helmet.
The Phenate or "P" helmet was made of two layers of flannelette (Cotton) with an added mouth piece. The inner layer of flannelette is usually, not always, striped pajama flannelette. "P" stands for Phenate and not practice--Practice Helmets were stamped DRILL. These stayed in service until Jan 1916 as Primary defence.
The Phenate-Hexamine or "PH" helmet is almost identical to the P helmet. The real diffference was in the dipping solution. This example has an elongated portion of flannellette commonly found on PH helmets. This example has inner flannelette in pajama material and also the back panel. PH Helmets are usualy stamped PH with a number (Lot number). The black stains are the back side of the stamo PH65 (see attached photo)
The Phenate-Hexamine-Goggles or PHG helmet was only made in small numbers for RFA and Machinegunners. It had the eye pieces replaced by a set of Rubber sponge goggles. I don't have an original of that one. These cameout in early 1916 and were officially withdrawn when the issue of SBRs started in Aug 1916. When SBRs started issue all PHGs were to be turned in and a PH Helmet retained as secondary defence.
Some of the photos posted below show:
The Satchell and inner bag as introduced in Aug 1915 for the P and Hypo Helmets. This satchel first cameout with only a single pocket but later in 1916 a two pocket variation came-out to hold the Gas Goggles.
The two primary types of British Gas goggles were the Spicer Goggles also known as the French Model and Rubber sponge Goggles. Both were introduced in the summer of 1915 and would be official withdrawn in July of 1917 (However, many continued to be worn well into 1918).
The last picture shows a comparison of the P to PH Helmets and the marking differences.
Hope this is of interest.
Joe Sweeney
From May of 1915 to the summer of 1916 the primary Gas defence of the British Army was the Gas Helmet. In fact the Helmets were retained as secondary Gas defence into 1918.
There were 4 Types in use, the Hypo, P, PH and PHG
Here are some examples of Hypo, P and PH helmets.
The "Hypo" was single layer of flannel with the eye piece of the same material that Film stock is made out of. (the very first helmets had mica windows but these were not too good). These were in service from May 1915 till Sept. 1915 as primary defences and then secondary for some time afterwards. This Helmet and first pattern satchel (June 1915) were issued to Sjt B. Coates.
The last batch of Hypo helmets used the screw-on glass eye pieces that would be standard on P and Ph helmets. The Flannel was still single layer. This Helmet was also issued to Sjt B Coates. He managed to save most of the Gas Defences issued toi him including two rare variants of the Hypo Helmet.
The Phenate or "P" helmet was made of two layers of flannelette (Cotton) with an added mouth piece. The inner layer of flannelette is usually, not always, striped pajama flannelette. "P" stands for Phenate and not practice--Practice Helmets were stamped DRILL. These stayed in service until Jan 1916 as Primary defence.
The Phenate-Hexamine or "PH" helmet is almost identical to the P helmet. The real diffference was in the dipping solution. This example has an elongated portion of flannellette commonly found on PH helmets. This example has inner flannelette in pajama material and also the back panel. PH Helmets are usualy stamped PH with a number (Lot number). The black stains are the back side of the stamo PH65 (see attached photo)
The Phenate-Hexamine-Goggles or PHG helmet was only made in small numbers for RFA and Machinegunners. It had the eye pieces replaced by a set of Rubber sponge goggles. I don't have an original of that one. These cameout in early 1916 and were officially withdrawn when the issue of SBRs started in Aug 1916. When SBRs started issue all PHGs were to be turned in and a PH Helmet retained as secondary defence.
Some of the photos posted below show:
The Satchell and inner bag as introduced in Aug 1915 for the P and Hypo Helmets. This satchel first cameout with only a single pocket but later in 1916 a two pocket variation came-out to hold the Gas Goggles.
The two primary types of British Gas goggles were the Spicer Goggles also known as the French Model and Rubber sponge Goggles. Both were introduced in the summer of 1915 and would be official withdrawn in July of 1917 (However, many continued to be worn well into 1918).
The last picture shows a comparison of the P to PH Helmets and the marking differences.
Hope this is of interest.
Joe Sweeney