Tank crewmans protective chain-mail face mask : British Tank Corps

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number REL23774
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Personal Equipment
Physical description Brown leather, Cuprous metal, Fabric tape, Ferrous metal
Location Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1916: Weaponry
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

British Tank Corps leather and chain-mail face mask. It is constructed from thin steel plate that has been moulded to a face shape, and has vision slits cut for both eyes. The steel plate is covered with brown leather on the outer surface and the inner surface is buff coloured chamois which is thinly padded. A chain-mail skirt is attached by rings to lugs on the steel plate, and hangs from the mask below the cheeks and nose. Fitted to each side of the mask is a length of cotton tape which are used to fasten it behind the wearer's head.

History / Summary

This type of mask was issued to British tank crews for protection against steel splinters that could be detached from the inner surface of the tank when shells struck the outside.

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