Corporal Joseph Egerton of the Shropshire Yeomanry in gas mask, 1917 (c)

Photograph, World War One, Middle East (1914-1918), Palestine, 1917 (c).

Egerton wears a small box filter respirator, a gas mask that was introduced in 1916. This design had a mask connected by a hose to a tin can containing gas absorbent materials. It was an improvement on the earlier gas hoods and gave better protection against the different gases in use. Gas first was used in the Middle Eastern theatre by the British in April 1917 during the Second Battle of Gaza.

From a collection of photographs taken by Corporal Joseph Egerton, Shropshire Yeomanry in Sinai and Palestine.