British Gas Helmets

[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 , PH and PHG 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.




Hope this is of interest.

Joe Sweeney

[Joe Sweeney]

The Phenate-Hexamine-Goggles or PHG helmet was only made in small numbers for Artillery. It had the eye pieces replaced by a set of Rubber sponge goggles. These cameout in early 1916 and were officially withdrawn when the issue of SBRs started in Aug 1916.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.

Joe Sweeney

[Joe Sweeney]

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).

My Gas helmet collection is nearing completion.

Hope this is of interest

Joe Sweeney

[tanks3]

Joe

Very interesting indeed. What do you make of this though?

http://www.waterloomilitaria.com/index.php?id_product=384&controller=product

Tanks3

PS hope the link works!

[Joe Sweeney]

Tanks3,

Those are not meant for gas at all--those are spaul goggles that are meant to protect the face from splinters (Spaul) that comes off the interior side of armor platting when hit but not penetrated.

Joe Sweeney

[Paddy 60th]

Thanks for the very interesting and informative details Joe.

Roger

[tanks3]

Joe

Thanks for your comments. Do you think then this is a one off modification made by a tank crewman or a prototype that never went any further?

Tanks3

[Joe Sweeney]

Tanks3,

Those masks are commonly issued pieces of equipment to tankers. Although the addition of the top ring and cellulous eye pieces is a bit unusual. Not seen any references to this being done.

Joe Sweeney

[Lancashire Fusilier]

From May of 1915 to the summer of 1916 the primary Gas defence of the British Army was the Gas Helmet.

Joe Sweeney

Joe,

A superb collection, and the first time I have seen many of these items other than in photographs.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

LF

[GRANVILLE]

Joe,

A superb collection, and the first time I have seen many of these items other than in photographs.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

LF

I'll second that.

David

[Wardog]

Information from you is very welcome on the forum Joe. I have tried to collect magazines over the years in which you have published- just a shame the text is in French. Also the info that was on Collecting Before 1919. Regards, Paul.

[Khaki]

What is phenate-hexamine, not being up on chemistry, is it toxic? did the masks require regular retreatment? I enjoyed your information and great photo's

Thanks

khaki

[Simon Jones]

Wonderful collection Joe. Helmets were redipped at a plant in Abbeville run by Lt S J M Auld who in late 1915 established that hexamine was a suitable addition to the Phenate Helmet to improve protection against phosgene. Googling hexamine gives you the full chemical name.

[bill24chev]

Wonderful collection Joe. Helmets were redipped at a plant in Abbeville run by Lt S J M Auld who in late 1915 established that hexamine was a suitable addition to the Phenate Helmet to improve protection against phosgene. Googling hexamine gives you the full chemical name.

I googled it and discovered that Hexamineis a component of RDX explosive!

[Joe Sweeney]

Wonderful collection Joe. Helmets were redipped at a plant in Abbeville run by Lt S J M Auld who in late 1915 established that hexamine was a suitable addition to the Phenate Helmet to improve protection against phosgene. Googling hexamine gives you the full chemical name.

Simon,

Thanks---I have also found reference to a recovery re-dipping station in Calais. Do have any more info--such as who ran it?

The number of 4 million Helmets were re-dipped between the 2 facilities

Take Care

Joe

[Michael Haselgrove]

Hi tanks3,

There is another example of the British protective tank mask with the additional protective lenses and padding and the extra strap attachment at the top illustrated in The French Army in the First World War by L. Mirouze and S. Dekerle (Vol.2 p. 408). In the circumstances, the example you found advertised cannot be said to be a one-off modification although it is certainly scarce.

Although I don't know for certain, it does seem to me likely that the modification was intended to form part of a protection against either gas or the noxious fumes inside a tank.

Regards,

Michael.

[Simon Jones]

Joe

I'll keep an eye out for mention of a helmet re-dipping station in Calais. I can't remember anything at present.

regards

Simon

[tanks3]

Hello Michael

Thanks for the additional information. The book you quote is not one that I am familiar with. Is it possible to scan the page and send it to my via PM?

Thanks

Tanks3

[Michael Haselgrove]

Hi Tanks3,

Thanks for your message. I am ashamed to say I am uncertain how the PM system works. Please send me an email and I will reply with the information you request.

Michael.

[fougassefilms]

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 , PH and PHG 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.

Hope this is of interest.

Joe Sweeney

Joe, what type of helmet did the troops primarily use at the Battle of Loos? All the illustrated War periodicals seem to show a P type helmet (supposedly introduced in November) as opposed to the Hypo.

[Raster Scanning]

Andy, I am afraid the overall good guy and expert Joe Sweeney is no longer with us. All members who have passed away are indicated by RIP under their profile.

[Chasemuseum]

what type of helmet did the troops primarily use at the Battle of Loos?

A convenient reference is Robert Graves - "Goodbye to all that". In chapter 15 he describes the battle in some detail including the gas masks. The are using the "tube" helmet, carried into battle rolled up and worn like a cap on top of the head, ready to be pulled down and tucked into the tunic and are carrying the old model smoke helmet as a reserve mask (assume celluloid window model, described earlier in the book where he complains that the window always broke and also that gas leaked through the seams of the stitching).

This is all before the issue of the PH helmet which he calls "the goggle-eyed booger with the tit" (last 2 pages chapter 18). From the text the date is unclear but he was issued this model some time before April 1916 as that was when he went on home leave and had an operation on to correct his nose as he had been unable to use the PH types where it was necessary to breath in through the nose and blow out through the mouth-piece.

Cheers

Ross

[42ndRHC]

"P" Tube Helmets come out in August of 1915. Given the speed and ease of production is it likely most of the fellows had these at Loos. Given that the ideal was to equip each soldier with two hoods, some possibilites of combinations exist in terms of what they were carrying. Ideally each soldier has two "P" tube helmets but until everyone could be made whole with two of the same model, it was common practice to get everyone the newest models with the "old" model as the backup until everyone could get two of the current model. But, these transition periods are typically small in the hood production and delivery went quickly.

I have most of Joe's notes and research on this and would be happy to provide any further information on these.

[kellyholmes]

Hi, really interested to know exactly when the very first helmets went down to the front line? Would this be by the end of May 1915? Were the first "prototypes" as such taken directly down to the front line for use?

Thanks

Edited 28 July , 2017 by kellyholmes