Gas

Gas was a weapon which promised to lead to mass panic among defending troops and allow the attackers an easy victory. It was first used by the Germans in 1915 and did have some early success. The three main types of gas were chlorine, phosgene and mustard. Phosgene smelt like rotten fish and mustard gas like perfumed soap. They all killed their victims slowly, choking them to death. One nurse wrote:

"I wish those people who write so easily about this being a holy war and about going on no matter how long the war lasts could see a case of mustard gas in its early stages - could see the poor things burnt and blistered all over with great mustard-coloured blisters weeping pus, with blind eyes ... all sticky and stuck together, and always fighting for breath, with voices a mere whisper, saying that their throats are closing and they know they will choke."

It could take four to five weeks for a mustard gas victim to die. Despite the terrible effects of gas it was not a successful weapon. After 1916 only 3 per cent of gas victims died and 93 per cent were able to return to duty. Less than 3000 British troops died from the effects of gas in 1918. Gas masks soon provided basic protection and the number of casualties (those killed or wounded) quickly began to fall. Besides, it was a weapon that depended on the wind blowing in the direction of the enemy to carry the gas away from the side using it. This further limited its use.

Neil Demarco: Britain and the Great War; Oxford University Press, 1992/2000, page 21