‘Take cover!’ was the next order, and still wearing our masks we crouched beneath our desks. These were made of solid wood and iron and screwed to the floor so they were considered a safe alternative in a raid if there was no time to dash to the shelter in the playground.
Pat Belford
In 1939, when the war began, we were all issued with gas masks. They were supplied in cardboard boxes with a length of string attached by way of a strap. The boxes were liable to get a soaking on wet days, so our mother cut up an old gabardine mackintosh of my father’s and made waterproof covers with straps for the family so that we could carry the masks slung over our shoulders.
Wherever we went, whatever time of day, the gas masks went too; for a walk in Roundhay Park, to the shops on Harehills Parade, and even to Granny’s house for tea. And, of course, to school.
One morning as I was hanging my coat in the cloakroom at Gipton school, the teacher told us to take our gas masks into the classroom as we were going to do a gas mask drill. I realised that I had left my gas mask at home and I went to confess to the teacher. She was furious and told me to go straight back home to fetch it.
There were no questions as to whether I could cross the roads safely, or if my mother would be in. I put my coat on and ran up the hill, past Kershaw’s factory and over the main road and arrived home, breathless. I explained what had happened to Mum, grabbed my mask, and ran back to school.
The class was waiting to start the drill. Miss Wynne gave the order. We opened our cases and plunged our faces into the black masks. I hated the rubbery smell, the way the elastic strap caught on my hair, and the feeling of confinement. Miss Wynne held a piece of paper in front of each of us in turn and we had to take deep breaths so that the paper clung to our mouthpieces. We looked like strange monsters with black snouts and huge, staring eyes.
‘Take cover!’ was the next order, and still wearing our masks we crouched beneath our desks. These were made of solid wood and iron and screwed to the floor so they were considered a safe alternative in a raid if there was no time to dash to the shelter in the playground.
Thus prepared, we were allowed to remove our gas masks and normal lessons resumed.
Thankfully here in Leeds, there were plenty of alerts but few air raids and we never had to wear our gas masks for real.