World War II civilian gas mask: 20th century

World War II civilian gas mask. This is a telephone operator's gas mask. During World War II, Britain's defence system was heavily reliant on telegraph, telephone and wireless communication. Switchboard operators working for the General Post Office were issued with specially adapted gas masks that incorporated a switchboard earpiece. In the event of a gas attack the operators would have been able to continue to provide an essential telephone service. Fortunately gas attacks did not take place during World War II and the masks were used only for training purposes.