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A teacher takes her young children through their gas mask drill.
Now put your books down鈥nd get your gas masks out. Quietly. Now take them carefully out of their boxes - no, no, Isobel, don't drag at it鈥ou show her how to do it, Margaret, will you. Now they're all out, are they? I want you to put them on鈥nd let's see if everyone can get it right this time. Wait a minute. Remember, chin in, right in first, before you begin to pull the straps over your head. No don't rush at it Rosalie, take your time. There you are you see, you'll have to begin all over again. Come here and I'll help you. Now, now put your chin in鈥o, no, no鈥ut your chin right in. Push! There you are鈥hat's more comfortable, isn't it? Now, is everybody ready? I'll tell you what I want you to do. I want you to get your knitting out and settle down comfortably at your desks, then I want to see just how long you can sit there with your gas masks on. And when you're quite quiet, I'm going to read you a story. Settle down, everybody. Ready? Well, 'Once upon a time, there was a king鈥'
A teacher takes her young children through their gas mask drill.
Gas masks were issued to all children as a precaution against attack by gas bombs. The masks came in cardboard boxes, with a strap for carrying them on the shoulder. Children were instructed to keep their masks with them at all times and were the key item of luggage for evacuees.
Gas mask drill was a daily feature of life at school. The routine for the drill was: i) remove mask from box; ii) put mask on face; iii) check the mask is fitting correctly; iv) breathe normally.
Many wartime children have subsequently admitted that they struggled to take the drill seriously and that their masks were frequently the source of games and much fun.
This recording dates from 1941 and features a teacher instructing her infants to put their gas masks on (鈥rior to getting their knitting out and listening to a story鈥!)
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WW2 Sounds - Evacuation - The Blitz - WW2 Speeches - WW2 Songs - WW2 News