Poison gas and gas masks in the First World War
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
- As part of his WW1 History series, Kevin Hicks explores the use of poison gas during the First World War, and looks at the development of gas masks in response to this new weapon. In his uniquely engaging style, Kevin demonstrates some of the gas masks and explains the pros and cons. #PoisonGas #FirstWorldWar #WorldWarOne #Gas #GasMask #FirstWorldWar #WorldWar1 #WW1
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Just discovered this channel today. Your first video I saw was the Henry V arrow removal. It was incredible.
Glad you found us - there's lots more to come 👍🏻
Same
that was the first one i watched too. I like this guys humor
Same for me too
@@thehistorysquad will you do more ww1 videos? It’s a great channel you have here 👍
My Great Uncle was at the Battle of Loos, he went over the top wearing the primitive gas/smoke hood that Kevin showed. His battalion, 10th Gloucesters, captured the first three lines of enemy trenches but so many were killed by mg fire or put out of action by their own gas that the battion of 1000 men was all but destroyed. The battalion's commanding officer witnessed hundreds of his men dead in no man's land and suffered a nervous breakdown. My Great Uncle was killed there near Lone Tree. He has no known grave. You can, today, visit the replanted Lone Tree, memorial and poignant cemeteries on the old battlefield. Also a small museum in the town of Loos. The local people gather and remember the battles fought there on or near September 25th every year. Visitors from UK are always very welcome.
A lovely comment Nick, thank you for sharing the story of your Great Uncle.
Thank you for sharing this history. Amazing! These fellows went through so much. No wonder why so many could never talk about these events. God grant your Uncle eternal peace. From Canada and a greatful generation that got to experience some peace and freedoms because of the actions needed that they took and endured for all of us. Let us remember.
My maternal grandfather was among the first American troops to enter combat during WWI. He saw over 4 months of almost constant fighting under horrible conditions before being hospitalized with injuries. Was first gassed with a cloud of German methane, but consequences were minor and he was off the front lines only two days. During an attack in mid-October 1918, a mustard round exploded right behind him, the chemical and shrapnel hit his back, and he inhaled some chem as well. He was hospitalized for several months, ended up with 2 Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and a disability award, but never fully recovered all the way to his passing in 1964.
My grandmother's older sister's husband was gassed in the war, and even drank poisoned water, but didn't did. After the war, the Army did a barrage of tests on him every year of his remaining life. And he lived to be 85 years old. And he was never sick either. They couldn't figure out why he lived when so many had died. He had no clue either, he would just simple tell them...." God didn't want me yet." and that was it. And like I said, he had the occasional cold, but nothing else, no cancer nothing from the Poisoned gas or water that he drank. Even after he died, the Army insisted on an autopsy to be done. But they found no answers....like he always said...."God didn't want him yet."......lol.
How lovely 👍🏻
My father was a nurse in a veterans home in England in the 1950s treating patients who had gas casualties in WW1 and had been in hospital ever since.
My great grandfather was a veteran of the Great War, used the old 'wee on the sock' tactic when his unit was gassed. He survived but the experience gave him such trauma that my father recalls being dragged under the table more than once, his grandfather brandishing a broom and yelling about THE HUN ARE COMING! Anyway, fantastic video, very informative!
Great story about your great grandfather there, thanks very much 👍🏻
The evolution of the gas mask was very interesting. I have read that the “vomit” gas/mustard gas combo was particularly effective on the rookie American soldiers. Thank you.
My maternal grandfather crossed over to Canada, from North Dakota in the US, at the age of 16 and joined the Canadian Army in 1915. A bit over a year later, he became a mustard gas casualty, spending the next three years in hospital in England and ultimately losing his right eye and one lung. In 1919, while still in convalescence, he met my grandmother, WInifred Alden. They got married that year and he returned with her to Canada.
He carried those wounds for more than 60 years. We have a picture of him, in uniform after having been released from the hospital. Sadly, I never got to meet him.
Wow, what a lovely story, thanks so much for sharing it here. Thank you!
🧢
@@javierv.g.5231 don't do that.
@@scrappydoo7887 🧢
@@javierv.g.5231 so edgy
My father joined up ahead of draft when war broke out in 1939. Assigned to South Wales Borderers and trained in Brecon Beacons then posted to Aberystwyth in case Germany used Ireland as a launchpad. As junior lieutenant, he was made responsible for gas response in the town. That required him to experience the various types of gas - not pleasant, he said. His arrangements so impressed higher ups that they were rolled out on a much wider scale. My last job was in local government and he would ask about what arrangements were in place for a variety of scenarios
Part of me says, especially when talking about the use of nuclear bombs in WWII, is, dead is dead, no matter how you get there. Gas is so horrible, indiscriminate, and really unpredictable. I wonder how many men were just completely undone when the war was over, even without any physical wounds.
I often wonder that myself 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Me too. The thing is, men didn't talk about their emotions, that generation (they just forced everything down, sadly); and society didn't countenance emotional demonstrativeness.
Many many accounts of men in the UK who ended up in permanent near vegatative states from the horror they faced in the first war.
So much trauma that reality just slipped away from them. Sadly in that day and age mental health issues were still poorly understood and the "treatment" could often be barbaric.
It's extremely sad.
@@scrappydoo7887 Yes, very.
@@scrappydoo7887 Yes, its all very sad. Today they often just find a clean way out through suicide.
I must confess that I have seen most of your videos and absolutely love them. Specially your epic rendition of battles. You remind me of a History teacher who, when I was 6 (long time ago 😅) taught us is only 3 months the road building and other architecural marvels of ancient Rome, including the special quality of their concrete. But I digress and will henceforth watch this video and leave more well-earned comments on your great and, me thinks, generous work.
Wow, thank you!
I love his personal stories..especially the one.about Beatrice ..i even told my husband that one.
You’re basically the best history teacher I’ve never had. All of my history teachers but maybe one were this interesting and passionate about the subject. Going to binge your videos and learn!
Oh wow, enjoy!
My great grandfather was in the first world war and saw some heavy fighting he was in the Somme river valley he never said much about it but I loved the man .
This is the first time that I hear the word "mica" used in English I did it research and I was amazed by what I found.
It turns out that in my country we call anything which has or made of plastic as "mica" and I never knew why.
Today was a revelation I will share this with people.
Thank you for your great content 👏
You're more than welcome, thanks for listening 👍🏻
Properly speaking, mica is a flaky mineral that used to be used for electrical insulation in capacitors...
The plastic that was first used as a lens for these masks was, as I recall, a form of cellulose acetate = celluloid, as in the stuff used for photographic films.
@@chemech I see thx for the intel
my maternal grandfather , BEF, was gassed just after Loos. he lost a lung, but after recovering, he returned to the front as an Ambulance driver, and won the MMdriving an ambulance at St. Julien, 1917.
So brave.
I never ceases to amaze me, the ingenuity of the human race to find new ways for us to kill each other! On the other hand, there are many discoveries made in war time that have helped save lives, especially in medicine and surgery, but can't we make these discoveries without so much suffering? Like you, the fact that poison gas is still being made, still being used, does my head in!
Thanks for another very interesting film Kevin.
I buy , collect and sell antique tools , few years back I bought a piano tuner’s kit in leather case. Inside with the tools were two metal buttons that said “ I am a Blind Vet”
I was curious about this and in my research I found out one of the trades that Blind Vets were often trained on was Piano Tuning since they could do it with out sight
Yes, that's fascinating isn't it 👍🏻
I went to college on an old army base. They would have these 'garage sales' with all this old stuff that had been stashed away for decades. I remember people trying on the old gas masks and gear, we weren't smart to enough to think if that was very safe. Nobody ever warned us of asbestos or anything else. There was all kinds of strange dangerous junk just laid out for kids to pick over.
@@libbyhicks7549 Only got about red flask with your comment. rewound couple times about what was there in the filter and bham! no luck what so ever... reached your post and man was I upset - asbestos from the first try
Hi Kev, great insight again. I think WW1 was the most horrific war to be involved in. If you think 15 years prior in the Boer War it was still muskets and cavalry. You could have been a Boer War veteran potentially then seeing action in WW1, the use of poison gas and machine guns mowing men down is frightening. Please keep up the great content. Cheers!
Thanks Matt - will do 👍🏻
machine guns weren’t new, they had been in use in war in the Spanish-American War and the Boer War…
The real mass killer in WWI was massed artillery...
Machine guns came in about third, after mortars... but, they were devastating in defense, and too many commanders sent infantry slogging into killing zones in the insane belief that the spirit of the infantryman and his bayonet would see things through.
I absolutely love your videos! You speak with such impact and art and eloquence, so much better than just rattling off facts as fast as possible. Not to mention the humor. Definitely subscribed! Also i have accidentally inhaled a form of chlorine gas before, you can feel every bronchiole in your lungs, it feels like fire or burning acid and you can't stop coughing. Acid is a great way to describe it, since Chlorine forms Hydrochloric Acid in the water coating your respiratory system and eyes, and that's what burns so much.
Wow, thanks for your comment, I'm glad your enjoying the channel. I hope your lungs are okay now, no lasting damage?
Thanks for all you do Kevin!
God bless.
Really great stuff. I wish everyone could have a history teacher like you.
Great video again, I was only aware of the later versions of the Gas masks so it was really interesting to see how it developed throughout the war.
"Or your gonna do that thing called dieing" bro said that with the most blank smile 😂
This is an amazing channel! Your knowledge is amazing, and enthusiasm just blows me out of the water. This is the kind of delivery that will get the next generation into history.
Gosh, that's really lovely of you to say so, thanks Harry 👍🏻
Amazing channel thank you 👍
So good Kevin!
I'm greatful I've found your channel! I've recommended you to my history teacher for his younger students as they're studying the Great War!
That's great, thanks. Glad you're enjoying it 👍🏻
Always interesting,thank you.
I’ve listened to these videos at least a dozen times. Really enjoy listening to Kevin. From one soldier to another, thank u Kevin.
My pleasure buddy, thanks very much 👍🏻
This channel is amazing, i just can't get enough of it..
Glad to hear it 👍🏻
Great to see your channel growing, your content is excellent and the manner in which you deliver it easy to listen to. Well done
Much appreciated! Thanks for staying tuned and your support in these comments. It's great to see people enjoying the history. 👍🏻
Glad I found you, your videos are great!
Thanks so much 👍🏻
I could literally listen to you all day!!! Amazing! Keep it up!
Wow, thank you! 👍🏻
This man is truly a marvel. His incredibly vast knowledge is a blessing to this world and I can only hope that there will be those who can fill his shoes with as much passion, eloquence, wit, and diversity of information as him. This account deserves so many more subscribers than it has. Amazing work as always
Cheers Alex, I'm honoured by your comment. 👍🏻
Your presentations always make me smile no matter how depressed I am. Thank you.
Well stay tuned for more eh? I know a bit about depression. 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad I will definitely stay tuned for more. You may discuss sad or dark subjects but you do it in a way that lifts your audience up instead of bringing them down more. I hope our positive comments, thumbs ups and subscriptions lift you up too. God bless.
@@christopherhahn6728 They most certainly do - thank you ;-)
Thankyou Kevin please dont stop makeing videos I cant stop listening to you speak I love your videos
Haha, cheers Dave - no plans to stop yet 😉
Been a fan of yours Kevin ever since I saw your musket drills video! Amazing channel
Cheers Jack, I'm glad you found me again 👍🏻
Great vid sir
Amazing just found your channel and the way you teach history is amazing!!
Thanks and welcome 👍🏻
Awesome work! Please keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do!
My grandfather was gassed at Ypres, he was in the Argylls. Unfortunately he didn’t talk much about his experiences and he was there for whole 4 years.
I never knew him because surprisingly he died of lung cancer before I was born
Love you channel and learning loads of new things and I’m a history buff x fee
Another fab video! Keep up the great work :)
Thank you! Will do!
This is awesome thank you
Fantastic channel, interesting and fun. Thanks!
You're welcome 👍🏻
I’m so glad that I found this channel! Awesome, and well researched information, and Mr. Hicks is a fantastic actor and narrator!
Thanks Facina, welcome aboard!
Very interesting Kevin! There are many things I enjoy about your videos but that you actually put on the gear is one of the best.
I appreciate that Kenn, thanks!
Thank you Kevin,....
Thank you for reminding us of the horrors of war. One day there will be no more wars. Love your neighbor as yourself 👍
In World War One my 2x Great Grandfather created a charity for Blind Veterans who where gassed during the war. It was called The Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Hostel now today called Blind Veterans UK. This video was great to watch and made me think about what my Great Grandfather was doing to help those in need. Thank you
Wow, that's brilliant, thanks for sharing.
Absolutely subscribed !
Excellent, thanks so much 👍🏻
Subscribed from Arkansas, USA. Love your videos. Keep up the fabulous work!
Thank you! Will do! 👍🏻
Amazing content and well made.
Glad you think so! Thanks Jarred 👍🏻
Stumbled on this today, I subscribed love the content. Love learning about the topics that were merely covered in details during lecture.
Great, thanks for watching! I find that too. So often history is lost in the details, and the story is overlooked, but give people the story and let them discover the detail for themselves. 👍🏻
Absolutely fascinating thanks again Kev
Good video Kevin, keep it up.
Thanks, will do!
Mate, I've honestly been looking for a channel like this. You make things so intresting. As if we were down the pub for a chat as opposed to a lecture. If ever we met id happily buy you a pint. Cheers to you Kevin
Well thanks very much buddy, that's much appreciated!
I was highly engaged through this fascinating topic of gas attack protocols. Thanks again sir 👋🏼
very interesting thanks.
I've always loved history, and this channel teaches it with passion. Would have loved to have you as my history tutor
Great work!
Thanks buddy 👍🏻
I love your sense of humor! Your wealth of knowledge is astounding! What great conversations you must have with your wife and friends!
Cheers Janet 👍🏻
All your videos are so good keep it up
Thanks very much, will do!
Excellent overview of all these masks!! Well done!
Keep the videos coming. Love them as always.
Hey, that's great Kim, thanks 👍🏻
Maybe see you at Chepstow in May 😉
We really do enjoy the quality videos "yeah" thank You !
Yeah, glad to hear it! 👍
Brilliant, just discovered your channel the other day and love the content!
That's good to hear comrade - thank you 👍🏻
Greetings from Turkey , I really admire your content with all that great story telling and historic gear and uniforms, your channel is a gem, thanks for all your videos,please make more videos
Hello & thank you for your kind words, I'll do my best to continue 👍🏻
Interesting video! As a gas mask collector it’s amazing to see how far gas masks have come!
It really is!
Absolutely love your videos!! Thank you for making these films :)
My pleasure!
Great content and charisma! It's not easy turning such a horrid and complicated affair into something interestingly digestible for the masses. Keep up the goodwork, I can see your gem of channel blowing up soon! Cheers!
Wow, thanks, I'm glad you like it 👍🏻
I must still be a child because I was endlessly delighted by you talking with the gas mask on! Lol, I loved the muffled talking and the "war bugle!"
😜
Another excellent film, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
I love your content sir. I have learned a lot from your videos. This is good information for my future and the future of all humans. Thank you.
I'm really glad to hear that, thank you 👍🏻
Another job well done sir
Cheers Sandy 👍
Thank you
Good work, sir. I learned something new today.
Glad to hear it! Thanks 👍🏻
So interesting Kevin, thank you So much as heal up from meniscus surgery!
My pleasure Lisa, hope you're doing okay.
very interesting - well told. Thanks Kev.
Cheers JD, appreciated 👍🏻
To me: thist is fast becoming my favourite history channel. Thanks for the content!
Wow, thanks! That's great to hear. 👍🏻
WW1 out of every war has always scared the crap out of me. The trenches, close quarter combat, gas, artillery, it must have been insane, literal hell on earth. All the previous wars never had the impact on me as the first, not even nuclear war which is second on my list.
Great video, I really liked to see how the use of gas masks changed throughout the war.
your programs are incredible I studied history at school I myself do re enactment so keep up the good work brilliant
Thank you! Will do!
I've been told one of my great grandfather's was a dispatch messenger/runner in the British Army on the Western Front. He was caught up in a mustard gas attack and had no mask. He was pretty messed up but was sent back to England to a hospital and survived the war.
His daughter, my grandmother, was a teenager living in London during the Blitz many years later and was a volunteer air raid warden. She used to tell me stories about running through the streets while houses exploded around her. Apparently some days there were so many planes overhead that they would black out the sun and cast a shadow over everything. She immigrated here to Australia as a nurse after the war. Towards the end of her life she started to lose much of her memory, and would occasionally have panic attacks thinking the Germans were about to attack. She passed away back in 2012 after slipping into a short coma. She was a super sweet lady and made the best sticky gingerbread I've ever had. I miss her.
What a lovely recollection, thanks for sharing 👍🏻
WoW Kevin your great, just love your history telling. This was a hard subject to cover but as always you did it great. I learn more about history from you than I ever did at school and it’s more fun, although fun may not describe this subject. Makes me think of all those poor men in the war 😢
Thanks Caroline, I'm glad you enjoy the videos and appreciate your kind words 👍🏻
My grandfather was gassed with mustard gas all the time I knew him half of his forehead was a weeping blister where it burnt him right up to his death in the early 80s he would never talk about ww1 just recently I found the field where he was gassed great videos keep them coming
What a legend you are Kevin, I worked for G4S for nearly 10 years and a urine soaked sock was often how I got threw each day! Brilliant channel
Really liking your content, particularly like the authentic costumes 👍🏻, adds a degree of reality to the subject.
Cheers, glad you're enjoying it. 👍🏻
What an amazing channel i've stumbled upon.
👍🏻 glad you like it
I feel fortunate to have found this excellent channel. A great history teacher and story teller with a nice touch of humour. I understand Kevin that you are an ex military man, can you tell me anything of your service history ? Definitely subscribed !
Thanks David, much appreciated. I was in the British Army during the 70s & 80s in the Royal Military Police 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad Saw one of your videos from Chepstow Castle where you were wearing a baseball cap with a Welsh Guards badge and the legend: "Veteran" below...
My great uncle died before I was born. His name was John Houston. He played football for Everton in 1915. His brother my great grandfather was killed in October 1914. He died from wounds received at Battle of Mons
Thank you again, another great job. Your passion for history makes you number 1. Another great history lesson. God bless.
Cheers Larry 👍
Greetings once again from nova Scotia, I did indeed find this video very interesting, gives a tiny, almost insignificant glimpse of what it must have been like, over there. Thank you once again, for all the hard work, the effort you put into your video. Thank you also, for your service,and all you carry with you, wanted or not. Best regards, Arthur post script, please do not think that I am demeaning your efforts bringing this video to air, just the impossible limitations of CZcams's rules, and the reality of portraying the horrors of war in short form.
Thanks Arthur, it's appreciated. 👍
Great channel 😃
Thank you! 😀
Well done, interesting and entertaining 👍
Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
Just found your channel, its fantastic you are a great host.
Thanks so much!
Hi Kevin. As a subscriber, I really enjoy your channel, it's very informative and a pleasure to watch. One of my favourite videos of yours is the Berlin Wall one, especially your own personal story. My aunt was German Jew, and having lived through the Nazi era, she always feared that if Germany re-united it could lead to a similar occurrence again.
My Grandfather fought in WW1 from early 1916 (he was only 17), later in the war he became a Lewis gunner and survived the war. He didn't say much, but the few stories he did share, some were amusing and some were horrific in equal measures.
Wow, thanks for your comment Neil. Hold onto those stories of your Grandfather, they're precious.
"Lest We Forget" keep up the good work 🙏
Cheers Shaun - hope you're keeping okay 👍
Thanks for this Kevin, finally some truth about how those gases are still mass produced now :( ... plus it was a really interesting video too .. I've only just discovered your channel and I'm really glad I have :) .
Well thank you Jo-Ann, I'm glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
Great video it was very educational, please make more.
I most certainly plan to, thank you 👍🏻
Going backwards through content I missed before I subscribed.
I'm always up for good WWII information.
Thanks for saying that about the asbestos, I've got an old US WWII or interwar mask I've been known to put on very rarely.
Knew that was a bad idea anyhow.
Thanks for watching Brian 👍🏻
Wish you'd been my history teacher at school. Amazing video