In Their Words

Gas Alarms

When a barrage of gas fell, soldiers often used whatever was at hand to sound the alarm. Often, official alarm systems were set up and a designated “gas officer” was tasked with sounding the alarm at the first sign of a gas attack. These official alarm systems were rarely complex, at times being little more than a hand bell or similar noise maker.

The bell pictured is simply a large cow bell with a wooden handle. “Gas” has been written on either side of the ringer. The ratcheted noise maker also pictured is another simple gas alarm. Consisting of three wooden slats (the middle slat being loose) affixed around a wooden star atop the handle, the device is twirled around to create a series of crackling sounds when the middle slat slaps against the spikes of the star.

Images (Click to Enlarge)