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