*WW1 Gas Warning Rattle*
A rare WW1 Gas warning rattle. A hand operated ratchet device that made a loud clacking sound when turned rapidly. Made of wood with a metal back plate. box 31cm x 10cm x 5cm deep, handle height 11.5cm (on top of box). The box is faintly stamped with what looks like the letters “R.O.D. 104 5 1V”.
When soldiers spotted approaching gas, they would swing the rattle in a circular motion, producing a loud clacking sound to alert others nearby. Subsequently, they would promptly put on their gas masks in preparation for the impending gas. The initial use of poison gas occurred during the First World War at the Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium, in 1915. The German Army, aiming to break the stalemate of trench warfare, released significant amounts of lethal chlorine gas. The wind carried the chlorine clouds towards the positions of French, British, and Canadian troops, none of whom possessed anti-gas equipment. Consequently, both sides started employing toxic gases as weapons from 1915 onward. While earlier gas attacks relied on compressed-air tanks, later on, chemical agents like chlorine gas, phosgene, and mustard gas were packed into artillery shells for detonation near specific targets.
The gas alarm rattle was primarily constructed from wood. Occasionally, these alarms would go missing in the trenches, where the availability of dry kindling for cooking fires was often scarce. It appears that besides serving as an anti-gas alarm, some gas alarm rattles also served as convenient fuel sources for soldiers who desired a hot cup of tea or a fried egg.
*Condition*
This is a rare piece in very good condition commensurate with its age. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAOOXAGE_4437122817
