Manufacturer(s): British Civilian Gas Masks & Appliances (BCGMA)
By the outbreak of the Second World War, over 50 million General Civilian Respirators had been produced, they were issued in a small cardboard box which also doubled up as a carrier, these can be seen in many period photographs of people going about their daily business during the early stages of the Second World War when carrying your respirator was compulsory. For younger children and babies, or those with specific medical conditions, special respirators were developed, examples of which can be seen on this page. Several different sizes exist, ranging from those suitable for children all the way up to adult sizes. No exhale valve is present on the standard General Civilian Respirator, instead exhaled air would be expelled though the edges of the facepiece when the wearer breathes out. It featured a simple sheet rubber facepiece, a single eyepiece made from celluloid, a three point adjustable head harness and a filter secured in place by a rubber band. The relative simplicity of the design meant that these respirators could be easily and quickly produced in large numbers for issue to the British civilian population.
The design was developed at Porton Down and the patented applied for in 1935 by Major John A. The General Civilian Respirator is perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of equipment seen on the Home Front during the Second World War.
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