A First War German A1 Gas Mask with Canister; Bourlon Wood 1918

Lederschutzmaske. This gas mask is leather with a rubberized seal over the seams and stitched areas. Both steel framed eyepieces consist of honey-coloured filters under a threaded six-partioned disk with a central circular opening in the middle. The steel disk at the chin position is embossed "A1" and stamped "188" in red ink and allows for attachment of the independent respiratory filter. The rear of the mask has been fashioned with five adjustable, durable elastic straps, one at the top and two on each side, to allow for a snug fit against the side and back of the wearer's head. It comes with a full-length ready strap, to wear the mask around the neck, when not in actual battle use. In addition, there is a pull rope on the front attached via a loop on the respiratory filter coupling at one end and to the top of the mask at the other. The filter consists of a cotton based layer, mesh screen, and filter carbon with added compounds, once housing either soda lime or potassium carbonate to neutralize certain agents. It is coded in red paint with a "C" inside a circle beside "326", stamped in black ink with the "A G Kahlbaum" maker mark and dated "28 Juni. 8" (June 28, 1918), with one additional stamping smudged. The accompanying bail latch steel canister has a hinged lid and was issued with the leather masks, as opposed to the cloth masks which had friction fit lids. The exterior is finished in field green paint, while the interior is finished in black paint. The underside of the canister's lid has a hinged, snap fit capsule, which originally contained four additional lens filters in glassine packaging, but they have been lost to time. The canister is maker stamped in black ink on the bottom, with "18" (1918) clearly visible, along with having the date "Oct 1st 1918" and location "BOURLON" scratched in place. Attached to the canister's left side are two metal loops which house a khaki canvas shoulder strap, the end of the strap closest to the front with a rolled white leather tab securing the strap in place. Appearing near the bottom on the same side is another metal loop which houses a shorter canvas strap, slotted with a reinforced button hole, with a rolled white leather tab at one end and is folded over at the other, securing it in place. Once all items are encased in the canister, the entire kit weighs 1,150 grams, the canister measuring 105 mm in diameter x 168 mm in height overall. Although the canister exhibits paint chipping on the exterior, with surface rust present on the filter, along with soiling and wear on the leather of the mask and assorted straps, the leather remains relatively supple, the inside of the eyepiece frames and the rubberized areas remain intact. Better than fine. Footnote: This canister was brought back to Canada by a soldier with the last name of Russell, who served with the 75th Infantry Battalion. The date "October 1st, 1918" and the reference to "Bourlon" on the bottom of the can refers to the capturing of Bourlon Wood, as part of the Battle of the Canal du Nord Allied offensive. [C24]