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DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S GOVERNMENT).
SECRET. W.P. (4
,
1 2 t h February 1942. AL
WAR
CABINET.
CARRYING OF GAS MASKS BY THE PUBLIC. Memorandum by the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security. I attach a copy of a Report by the Home Defence Committee (H.D. (42) 5 ) . This Report was made at my request following the receipt of proposals from the C - i n - C , Home Forces (reproduced as Annex I to the Report) that soldiers should no longer carry their gas masks when at their stations save on duty and in certain defined circumstances. Having regard to the rubber situation, as well as
the present disregard by the public of the injunction
always to carry gas masks, I am of opinion that it will
be better to follow the policy advocated by the C-in-C,
Home Forces, subject to my having the assurance that the
Government is reasonably likely to be able to give, a
warning before the use of gas by Germany on any large
scale.
I believe that, when it becomes necessary to
give the public such a warning, it will come with much
greater force if the recommended relaxation has first
been allowed.
I therefore ask the approval of the Cabinet to my
adopting the policy recommended in the R e p o r t subject
to my reserving judgment on the methods by which the
public should be kept up to scratch on the regular
inspection of respirators, until I can consult Regional
Commissioners.
It would be understood that this policy/
would only be put into operation in conjunction with a /
similar policy for the Fighting Services.
H.M. H O p : OFFICE. 12th February 1942. \ WAR
CABINET.
HOME DEFENCE COMMITTEE. CARRYIUB
OF GAS MASKS * Report to the Minister of Home Security. 1". You have referred for our consideration the general question of the need, for the general wearing, of respirators in present circumstances. On the basis of a note put in by the . Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, (Annex I) we considered at the same time the allied question whether service personnel should be relieved of the necessity to carry their respirators until the invasion warning "Stand To" is issued. In particular you have asked us to advise you as to whether there is a likelihood of large-scale gas attacks before invasion and, if so, whether adequate warning can be safely expected. 2.
Experience of the.enemy's methods indicates that, having
selected an objective, he concentrates all his strength and efforts
on it. While invasion remains a possibility it is highly
improbable that he would reduce the very considerable surprise value
of the gas weapon in invasion by using it in advance on an
operation against this country of quite minor importanceThis
view is supported by strategical considerations. In the view of
the Air Staff, the balance of advantage would be with the Allies
if the Axis powers did begin the use of gas. They are of opinion
that the likelihood of gas attack on this country unaccompanied by
invasion is remote. In accepting this conclusion we have borne in
mind the effect on the enemy's intentions of the knowledge that
the public were not carrying their masks. We are satisfied that
this would be outweighed by other and more important factors and
would not affect the enemy's calculations, provided our
arrangements for maintaining anti-gas efficiency are adequate.
3. No alteration of the. equipment of aircraft is needed for the use of gas bombs instead of high explosive bombs and the chance that an individual German air commander might decide to include a proportion of gas bombs in a bomb load contrary to the policy of his Government though possible is highly improbable. Clearly no warning of such an attack can be given, and although for the reasons set out above we consider such attacks unlikely, we are of opinion that it would be a wise precaution to require Civil Defence workers to carry *the.ir respirators when on duty. We understand that the possibility - of applying this rule to the police, particularly police on duty at night, is under consideration by. the Ministry of Home Security in consultation with the Home Office. 4.
We understand that certain transport drivers (both road
and rail) are at present required by their employers to carry
their respirators with them if their duties take them'from home
at night. As a further safeguard against the isolated raid we
consider that this rule should be applied to members of the public
sleeping away from home.
1
5. Once invasion has been mountedy gas attacks may begin at
any time with little or. no warning. For this reason we are of
opinion that the instruction to carry masks should not be rigidly
related to the issue of "Stand To" and we would suggest instead
that the governing factor should be "when the risk increases
again".
This phrase might replace the words " a t . a l l times from
-2­
'Stand to'" in the last sentence of paragraph 3 of the
Memorandum by the Cornmander-in-Chief, Home Forces reproduced
at Annex I to this Report. The necessary link between Service
and civilian action might be achieved by synchronising
the
instructions to the civil population to carry or dispense with
their respirators with orders to Service personnel.
(See
paragraph 8 ) .
6.
It is vital that the proposed relief to the civil
population should not impair in any way the efficiency of our
anti-gas preparations and we attach great, importance to measures
to ensure that respirators- are-periodically-tested and that the
public are exercised in wearing and inspecting them. We have
considered a number of suggestions to achieve these objects
including ' ­
(a)
the nomination of the first day of each month as
"gas day'.'- when everyone (Service, personnel as
well as civilians) would be required to carry,
--inspect"and test his respirator by actual use.
1
(b)'
the increased use^. on these d a y s o f tear gas "-demonstrations and mobile- gas vans for testing respirators.
­
:
We- - regard both these suggestions as valuable and recommend that they be very seriously examined. We understand that for a number of reasons it would be impracticable to enforce the rule that respirators should be carried throughout a given day every month, but we feel that a relaxation should depend on prior approval-of adequate plans for.attaining the purpose'we have in. mind, in this paragraph; much might be done by suitable publicity in the :conditions created by the new policy.
­
;
r
7.
We have considered the draft notice to the public annexed' to the'Memorandum prepared by the Ministry of Home
/ ':. Security. We agree generally with it, subject to- certain amendments which we have incorporated in the revise which we , append at Annex II. We consider that it should not be issued­
until the arrangements for testing respirators by actual use referred to.in paragraph 6 are complete.. -­
:
8.
We were'informed that the broad policy set out in the
Commander-in-Chiefs Memorandum (as amended in paragraph 4' above)
is accepted by the Service Departments, -it is important that the
-three Services should takd-common action to order that/respirators
should be carried or dispensed with but they should be free at any time of emergency to take - immediate independent action.' We',
understand that adequate machinery exists for consultation between
them. We^agree with the instructions for Army personnel suggested fey the Commander-in-Chief, and we recommend that they should be applied mutatis mutandis-by-the other Service Departments. ' :
9*
Following is a summary of our conclusions:-:,/'-'.'. (a). There is no reason to suppose that the enemy will use \
gas in attacks on this country until-invasion-occurs.^
The knowledge that respirators are not being carried' is very unlikely to affect the enemy's calculations. (b)
Advice to the public should be synchronised' with orders to Service personnel. (c).
All. civil defence workers on duty should be required to
carry their respirators; the application of this
rule to the police should be examined..
of
( d )
it
( e )
The d r a f t p u b l i c n o t i c e a s amended s h o u l d be i s s u e d when
t h e m a c h i n e r y f o r t e s t i n g r e s p i r a t o r s by a c t u a l u s e
i s ready to operate.
I t should include
notification
of t h e t e s t s and m e a s u r e s t o be a d o p t e d .
( f )
The r u l e i n t h e C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f ' s memorandum t h a t
r e s p i r a t o r s should be c a r r i e d from "Stand t o " should
b e amended t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e i s s u e of an o r d e r a t
a n y t i m e when t h e r i s k i n c r e a s e s a g a i n .
The
i n s t r u c t i o n s s u g g e s t e d by t h e Commander-in-Chief
for
t h e Army s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d m u t a t i s m u t a n d i s t o - t h e
other
services.
10.
Staff
i s of v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d
relief
should n o t r e d u c e t h e e f f i c i e n c y of our a n t i - g a s
p r e p a r a t i o n s and i n . p a r t i c u l a r s t r i n g e n t m e a s u r e s
s h o u l d be t a k e n t o e n s u r e t h a t r e s p i r a t o r s a r e
tested periodically.
T h e M i n i s t r y o f Home S e c u r i t y
should c o n s i d e r the p r a c t i c a b i l i t y of s e c u r i n g
this
by such methods a s t h e u s e of t e a r gas d e m o n s t r a t i o n s
and mobile gas v a n s .
We h a v e f o r w a r d e d a c o p y o f t h i s
Committee for t h e i r
information.
report
(Signed)
GREAT GEORGE S T R E E T ,
2nd
February.
S.W.1.
1942.
to
the
Chiefs
S.F.STEWART.
ANNEX
I.
MEMORANDUM BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
HOME F O R C E S .
CARRIAGE OF GAS R E S P I R A T O R S .
1.
C o n s i d e r a t i o n h a s "been g i v e n t o t h e v a r i o u s w a y s i n
w h i c h t h e GERMANS m i g h t f i r s t e m p l o y g a s a g a i n s t
this
country, w i t h a view to determining whether the p r e s e n t
r u l e s r e g a r d i n g t h e c a r r i a g e of r e s p i r a t o r s s h o u l d n o t h e
relaxed under present conditions.
2 .
In
initial
towns i n
begin thi
attempted
o r d e r t o o b t a i n t h e maximum a d v a n t a g e f r o m t h e
u s e of g a s , and t o l i m i t r e t a l i a t i o n by us a g a i n s t
GERMANY, i t a p p e a r s p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e GERMANS w i l l
s form of w a r f a r e on, or i m m e d i a t e l y p r e v i o u s t o ,
invasion.
Such a c t i o n would be i n accordance With the m i l i t a r y
p r i n c i p l e s a d o p t e d b y t h e GERMANS i n t h i s w a r .
I cannot of
course say t h a t t h i s method i s a c e r t a i n t y , but I c o n s i d e r
i t s u f f i c i e n t l y l i k e l y to j u s t i f y r e v i e w i n g our p o l i c y
f o r t h e c a r r i a g e of gas masks, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n view of the
s h o r t a g e of r u b b e r .
3.
I t h e r e f o r e recommend t h a t i n the i n t e r e s t s of t h e
w a r e f f o r t a s a w h o l e we a c c e p t a s m a l l d e g r e e o f r i s k
u n d e r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s , and e n d e a v o u r t o s a v e t h e wear
and t e a r c a u s e d t o r e s p i r a t o r s by c o n s t a n t c a r r i a g e .
It
would be n e c e s s a r y i n t h a t c a s e , to e n f o r c e w i t h t h e u t m o s t
s t r i c t n e s s t h e c a r r i a g e of r e s p i r a t o r s by everybody a t
all
t i m e s f r o m "STAND T O " .
4.
It is
instructions
( a )
suggested
should be
A soldier
therefore,
as follows
will
Carry
his
that,
:
as regards
the
Army,­
respirator.
( i )
At a l l t i m e s i n F . S , m a r c h i n g o r d e r ,
( i i ) A t a n y o t h e r t i m e o r d e r e d b y h i s
Commanding O f f i c e r ,
( i i i )
( iivv))
( b )
On g u a r d a n d p i q u e t s . A f t e r "STAND TO A s o l d i e r when a b s e n t from h i s s t a t i o n w i l l
take h i s r e s p i r a t o r with him.
He n e e d n o t
c a r r y i t , e x c e p t under the c o n d i t i o n s of
para. 4 (a) above,
5.
As r e g a r d s t h e c i v i l p o p u l a t i o n , i t i s n o t e d
that,
in. the c o u n t r y as a whole, only a small p r o p o r t i o n of the
p o p u l a t i o n now o b e y t h e i n j u n c t i o n t o c a r r y t h e i r g a s m a s k s
with them.
I t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t a more p r a c t i c a l o r d e r ,
and
one t h a t would be more l i k e l y t o be o b e y e d , would b e t h a t
gas masks ­
( a ) s h o u l d n o t n o r m a l l y b e c a r r i e d , b u t s h o u l d a c c o m p a n y
t h e i n d i v i d u a l i f s l e e p i n g away from t h e n o r m a l p l a c e
of r e s i d e n c e .
'
(b)
s h o u l d b e t a k e n o u t and i n s p e c t e d on t h e
of every month. ( c ) a f t e r t h e i s s u e o f a w a r n i n g t h r o u g h t h e
p r e s s , should be c a r r i e d by everybody a t
m all circumstances.
h
Ch^ooT w
Chemical
A
5
O V E
Warfare
first
day
B . B . C and t h e
a l l times and
o r d e r s would of c o u r s e be c a n c e l l e d
s t a r t e d i n any t h e a t r e of war.
If
ANNEX
II
DRAFT NOTICE TO THE P U B L I C ABOUT GAS MASKS
, ' - The war w i t h J a p a n w i l l a f f e c t t h e s u p p l y of r u b b e r
available in this country^
T h i s f a c t w i l l c a l l f o r much
g r e a t e r c a r e i n t h e use of gas masks by the whole p o p u l a t i o n
a t home, so as t o r e d u c e t h e r a t e of damage and r e p l a c e m e n t
and c o n s e r v e s u p p l i e s ^
i
A main c a u s e of damage i s t h e shock and b u m p i n g t h a t
i s i n e v i t a b l e when g a s m a s k s a r e c o n t i n u a l l y c a r r i e d and t h e
Government b e i n g of o p i n i o n t h a t i t w i l l b e p o s s i b l e t o g i v e
some h o u r s w a r n i n g a t l e a s t o f t h e p r o b a b i l i t y of l a r g e ,
s c a l e gas a t t a c k , i t has t h e r e f o r e been decided t h a t the
best course for the public to adopt in present
circumstances
i s not to c a r r y t h e i r gas masks at a l l times, b u t t o l e a v e
them a t t h e i r p l a c e of r e s i d e n c e where t h e y c a n b e r e a c h e d
e a s i l y in case of need.
ANYONE S L E E P I N G AWAY FROM HOME
SHOULD CARRY H I S MASK WITH H I M ,
T h i s does n o t mean t h a t t h e r i s k of gas - a t t a c k i s
regarded as p a s t .
On t h e c o n t r a r y t h e C i v i l D e f e n c e
s e r v i c e s a r e c o n t i n u i n g w i t h f u l l p r e p a r a t i o n s and t r a i n i n g
i n a n t i - g a s m e a s u r e s , i n c l u d i n g d e c o n t a m i n a t i o n and c l e a n s i n g
and t h e p u b l i c l i k e w i s e s h o u l d k e e p i n mind t h e
instructions
and a d v i c e p r e v i o u s l y g i v e n .
I t f o l l o w s t h a t when t h e y a r e n o t b e i n g c a r r i e d ,
gas
masks should always be kept in a p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e , easy to
r e a c h , b u t away f r o m t h e r i s k s of k n o c k s and movement.
T h e y a r e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l s who u s e t h e m
a n d w h o s e l i f e may d e p e n d on t h e m .
Great care should be
t a k e n t o ensure t h a t t h e y are i n p r o p e r c o n d i t i o n and
they should be examined every t h r e e or four weeks t o see
t h a t t h e y are i n good r e p a i r .
Any damage s h o u l d a t o n c e
be r e p o r t e d to the C i v i l Defence warden.
I F R I S K OF GAS ATTACK I N C R E A S E S , THE GOVERNMENT WILL
I S S U E A WARNING AND FROM THAT TIME MASKS MUST BE CARRIED
U N T I L FURTHER N O T I C E .
(Note:
D e t a i l s of the measures for e n s u r i n g the
m a i n t e n a n c e of a d e q u a t e a n t i - g a s
precautions
w i l l be i n s e r t e d when t h e y have b e e n
:" d e c i d e d u p o n ) . '