Poisoned Gas was probably the most frightening weapon of the whole war.

Chemical weapons could be  released by hand grenades, or  by bombs dropped from planes, but these methods delivered only small quantities. More often large gas cylinders were opened near to the front line when the wind was in the right direction.

Chemicals were used because the gas could get down into the trenches hwere bullets couldn't reach. The gas would force the men to come out into the open where they could be shot.

Not only did people need protection form these poisonous gases, but animals such as horses needed protection too.  That’s why often you would see horses and dogs with gas masks on also.
 
 

Basically the three main types used were - chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas.

Chlorine - a greenish, yellow heavier than air gas which in its pure form is an oxidizing agent. This means that it will react in the presence of water to cause a chemical burning effect on organic matter. Mucus tissues of the human body are susceptible to such chemical reaction because of 1) their organic nature and , 2) they are always covered with a film of water. Symptoms of chlorine gas poisoning include vomiting, difficulty in breathing, a burning sensation in the lungs, eyes, nasal and mouth passages, watery eyes. In severe cases, cell damage in the lungs leads to fluid buildup in the lungs, loss of consciousness through suffocation, and death.

Phosgene - a colourless, odorless, heavier than air gas formed by heating carbon tetrachloride. It is highly poisonous in that it will preferentially replace oxygen in the cells and quickly causes an oxygen debt within the body, unconsciousness and death.

Mustard gas - a caustic gas with a distinctive mustard smell, it causes blistering and huge sores on any exposed tissue, internal or external. Probably the most used gas, with phosgene, in the war. A nasty piece of business.
 
 

Click here for an article by a man who was gassed in a gas attack

Click here for an article on the use of Chlorine gas

Click here for a list of all the different types of gas which were used in the war

Click here for a very well known poem about what it was like to be gassed.
 
 
 
 

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