WWII SERVICE BOX RESPIRATOR OR GAS MASK No 4 Mk 2

Box Respirator worn with but not part of the Pattern 37 web set during WW2.
The 37 web set was superseded by the 1958 pattern after the war.
Gas attacks had been common in WW1, so during WW2 all precautions were taken against them. However no gas attacks came, it appears that no side would undertake such an event realising that the other would do also.

For a view of the respirator in its bag with the Web-set see A0984

• Respirator in its bag with the web-set
  

Your comments:

• This is the Mk. V General Service Respirator or Respirator, Anti-Gas, Mark 5. It was effectively a simplification of the Mk. IV (the other in your collection) which was only ever produced in size normal, with anyone requiring an extra small, small, large or extra large, receiving a Mk. IV. This one is fitted with the Type E Mk. VI container. This container was the best available for this type of respirator and was developed following the arsine scare of October 1939. It was capable of filtering arsine using lime permanganate. The filter material itself was a blue asbestos x wool mixture which was deemed ineffective against smokes and would later be replaced by the resin x wool mix from the Light Respirator series onwards in 1941.
  .......... Anon, UK, 11th of April 2022
  
  
• These respirators are not connected in any way with webbing systems and are totally independent.
  The 1937 pattern webbing set was finally replaced by the 1958 pattern set. There was also a 1944 pattern set used concurrently with certain forces. There was no 1948 pattern set.
  .......... M. Clewlow, Stoke, Stafordshire, 5th of December 2011
  
  

A0438