Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Department guide to anti-gas protection of babies and young children, July 1939

British civilians were issued with gas masks on the eve of the Second World War (1939-1945). People were instructed to carry their gas masks at all times in case of attack. Although the Germans had large stockpiles of gas they never used them, believing that the Allies had also developed similar chemical agents and would respond in kind to their use.

From a collection of documents collected by Major F A Fitton, a member of the Civil Affairs Staff Centre (CASC) and a Police Staff Officer with the Allied Control Commission for Germany (CCG), 1945-1951.