Gas Masks

Preparing for war

Even though war had not been declared, it seems the area was preparing itself.

Before war started, when things were brewing up a bit, I was working in the Accountancy Department of the Merton and Morden Council. There was a question of distribution of gas masks and I and a colleague from our audit department were given a lorry full of gas masks with a big list.  We covered quite a lot of the southern part of the St. Helier Estate, issuing out gas masks. I always remember that we got a lot of stick from young mothers because at that time the government hadn’t come up  with an adequate gas mask specially for young babies and so that created some concern.  It was alright after that - the babies got their gas marks. I spent about a week on the back of a lorry dishing out gas masks to the residents of St. Helier estate close to Morden Station  - that area all round there. (Leslie Ward)

Pre-war practice

During the so-called “Phoney War”, prior to the start of air raids in the late summer of 1940, us locals were invited by  the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) people, up to Rose Hill shops for a gas attack exercise.  At the sound of a whistle, smoke canisters were let-off and we all donned our gasmasks, whilst officials dressed in shiny, gas-proof suits, wellingtons and steel helmets, came and checked whether or not we’d donned our masks properly. (Bill Mallion)