German horse respirator (gas mask)

Cylindrical respirator (gas mask) for a horse made from multiple layers of coarsely woven paper and recycled cotton 'ersatz hessian' fabric. The base and sides are over sewn in diamond pattern to reinforce and stiffen the fabric. The open end of the mask, through which the horse's nose is placed, is bound with a broad band of brown leather. A further rectangular panel of leather is stitched to the back of the mask, holding in place two rectangular pieces of metal (each 90 x 21 mm) that further stiffen the mask and prevent it from collapsing in around the animal's nose. The centre front of the leather band has a short vertical ersatz webbing strap with a white metal roller buckle designed to be attached to the 'Y' shaped head fitting (not present) that attached the mask to the bridle. Two smaller webbing straps fit around the front of the nose and attach to white metal slides on each side to adjust fit. Also attached to the metal slides is a pair of black cotton/paper cords which thread through a row of two white metal rings and a white metal 'D' ring sewn on each side of the leather band. Pulling on the front webbing straps adjusts the fit of the mask around the horse's nose both back and front by means of the combined action of the straps, cords and slides. Beneath the cords are sewn two cotton covered short elastic straps, each looped around a white metal spring clip that attaches to the lower cheek pieces of the horse's bit. The back of the mask is stamped in black 'E. Gr III'.

The history of this gas mask is unknown. It was one of 23 collected by the Australian War Records Section from abandoned German supplies, in May 1919. Although this type of mask had no canister is likely to have been soaked in a chemical such as phenol before use, to give additional protection to the animal. The mask also demonstrates the use of ersatz (substitute) materials by the Germans, developed when the Allied naval blockade, imposed after the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, prevented the import of raw materials. Material made from a combination of paper and cotton or wool rags was successfully used in place of traditional fabrics and leather, in both civilian and military applications.

• German horse respirator (gas mask) case