|
The fear of gas attacks meant that everyone was issued with gas masks. From babies to grannies to children, everyone had to practise putting them on and remember to carry them everywhere.
TRANSCRIPT
And the first thing you became aware of as a child: that you opened the box and there was this awful smell. It smelled very unpleasant. And then you were asked to put it on your head... imagine you are six or seven years old and you're faced with a crumpled piece [mm] of red and blue rubber, which didn't smell very nice, and all these straps. And I do remember the teacher getting quite irritable because some of us were fumbling and couldn't get these things on.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS
 |
Click here to listen to the above transcript
(177k - Windows Media Player Required) |
TRANSCRIPT
We used to fight over the Mickey Mouse gas mask. It was red and blue, I think, It had a funny sort of nose. It had (er, er) a pointed, a triangular shaped nose, a piece of rubber that was a nose on it, and then the two circular pieces for the eyes
KATHLEEN QUANT
|
Click here to listen to the above transcript
(109k - Windows Media Player Required) |
TRANSCRIPT
I only had the normal [erm] cardboard box mask. My, my boyfriend in those he [he] had the big one with a tube on the end 'cause he was a motorcycle [erm] messenger and he had to be out so he had the big mask but I think all of us indoors, we only had the ordinary ones..... we did have occasional meetings especially when we learned about gas. They was, I think it was the Liberal Hall .it was called, along Lansdown. They gave a series of gas lectures - about 6 weeks of gas lectures. And then everybody would come and join in that.
MRS Y (Interviewee prefers not to be identified)
|
Click here to listen to the above transcript
(244k - Windows Media Player Required) |
TRANSCRIPT
[we] got [I] issued 'em out but you kept them in a tin an' you' sling it on your back an' take it t' school. well, livin' at Thrupp we used to go 'cross t' rail-car an' it was your books and your gas mask and your dinner really ... the car came in at ten past eight at [en, eh, eh, eh], I mean, it's filled up with [eh, with] the two schools.. used to get on the rail car an' go down the [D] Downfield.
And how fast did it go?
Well it's a job to say but I...I mean, between the local stations it dn' [i.e. "didn't"], but it'd always got up a good speed between Stonehouse an' Gloucester.. Yeh, when it d'get [did get] between Stone'ouse and Gloucester the whole thing did go, ye know
MR X (Interviewee prefers not be identied)
|
