WIP REWRITE, V3[]
Shortly after the introduction of the British Light Anti-Gas Respirator, Canada was to receive early British models and the begin production of their own Light Respirators known, initially as the Canadian Light Assault Respirator. The Canadian Light Respirator was to be manufactured following the design of the Mk. I and II British Light Respirators. Two companies were used to produce the two styles of respirator, V.M.C. and Dominion Rubber Company. V.M.C. were to produce the Mk. Is using converted Civilian Duty Respirator moulds, and Dominion were to produce the No. 5-style Mk. IIs.
In 1943, Canada requested L3 Valve Holders from the British and recieved them a year later. These were put to use and later replicated to make a Mk. III-type Canadian Light Respirator, though no examples have been seen to date. Following this, no further development was undertaken until the creation of the new No. 2 Mk. 2/1 NBCW Protective Mask, better known today as the C3 Protective Mask. At this stage, the Light Respirators were fitted with the C3's orinasal cup to give them a place alongside the No. 2 Mk. 2/1 until they were finally retired from service at some point in the 1960s.
If you use this information, please credit the author as Baroque4Days.
Design, Identification & Nomenclature[]
Overview
| Facepiece Designation | Rubber Mask | Valve Holder | Nosecup | Eyepieces | Headharness | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk. I Type A | No. L3/C, Type A | No. L1 | No | Mk. III | No. 4, Mk. III | Small, Normal, Large |
| Mk. I Type B | No. L3/C, Type B | No. L1 | No | Mk. III | No. 4, Mk. III | Small, Normal, Large |
| Mk. I Type C | No. L3/C, Type A | No. L1 | No | Mk. III Arctic | No. 4, Mk. III | Small, Normal, Large |
| Mk. II | No. L2 | No. L1 | No | Mk. III | No. 4, Mk. III | Normal |
| Mk. III ? | Unknown | No. L3 | No | Mk. III | Unknown | Unknown |
| NBCW No. 2 Mk. 2 | No. L1 (or L2?) | No. L1 | Yes | Mk. III | No. 4 Mk. 4 | Small, Normal, Large |
Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian, Mk. I (Viceroy)[]
The Mk. I comes in three sizes and was produced only by the Viceroy Manufacturinh Company "V.M.C.". It used a rubber mask known as the L3/C, which was based on the British L1 rubber mask in that it was made from converted Civilian Duty Respirator moulds. This type of mask came in three types, A, B, and C. Type A features standard natural rubber whilst Type B uses a stiffened rubber. Type C is the same as Type A but uses special eyepieces known as arctic eyepieces which help prevent fogging. On the collectors market, this is by far the most common variant but is still fairly uncommon worldwide, though parts can be found issued in Danish M/45E kits.
Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian, Mk. II (Dominion)[]
The Mk. II comes in one size, much like the British equivalent, and was produced only by the company Dominion Rubber Co., who marked their masks "DOM". It used the standard British L2 rubber mask, based on the No. 5 rubber mask which was used with the Mk. V General Service Respirator. On the collectors market, this type is much less common than the Mk. I but not impossible to find, though it is also much harder to find outside of Canada with under ten examples known as of 2021.
Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian, Mk. III ?[]
[WILL INCLUDE SOMETHING WHEN MORE IS UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THIS PART]
Mask, Protective, NBCW, No. 2 Mk. 2[]
Based on the Mk. I Canadian Light Respirator, possibly also the Mk. II and III, the No. 2 Mk. 2 NBCW Protective Mask was a simple upgrade to the wartime model which helped it serve alongside the No. 2 Mk. 2/1, also known as the C3 Protective Mask. The Light Respirators that would become No. 2 Mk. 2s had their No. 4 Mk. III headharnesses replaced with No. 4 Mk. 4s and also had the C3's orinasal cup installed into them. These respirators were always issued with the US M11 Canister., as were the early No. 2 Mk. 2/1s (C3s).
Components[]
Mask, Rubber (faceblank)[]
L2 (Dominion "DOM" Rubber Co.):[]
no type D
L3/C ("V.M.C."):[]
Mention Types A and B
Holder, Valve, Assembly & Valve, Outlet[]
L1 Valve Holder:[]
Canadian L1 Valve Holder
The Canadian L1 Valve Holder is almost identical to the British verison with parts differing only in fractions of measurements and also some differences in colouring and markings. The valve holder is built from four components, the body, the seating, the outlet valve, and the checkplate.
Markings on the front of the valve holder differ from that of the British version in that the British variant merely identifies the component by stamping "L1" whereas the Canadian version stamps both the manufacturer, such as G.S.W. or C.C.C., and also the date of manufacture. The outlet valve differs in that it is made of a dark grey rubber as opposed to the typical tan rubber which Britain used. The seating plate is different in an almost irrelevant measurement but does differ in colour. The Canadian seating is brass, whereas the British version is painted dark grey. The backplate of the Canadian model is painted blue/grey as opposed to black.
In terms of operation, this outlet valve assembly functions by pressing the valve into place with the backplate, allowing it to seal shut on inhalation, but using the checkplate to restrict the output, with the ribbing on the valve preventing it from sealing itself shut on the seating suring exhalation.
L3 Valve Holder:[]
Speech Transmitter No. L1:
Content
Headharness[]
No. 4, Mk. III[]
Content (BFG)
No. 4 Mk. 4[]
Content (post-war only)
Kit Content Breakdown & Identification[]
The Light Anti-Gas Respirator kit is comprised of the Respirator Facepiece and Light Container, 1 pair of Sealing Plugs, 1 Tin of Anti-Gas Ointment, 1 Carton of Anti-Gas Eyeshields, 1 Anti-Dimming Cloth, 1 Cleaning Cloth and 1 bundle of Cotton Waste weighing roughly 1 oz. This kit is stored in Light Respirator Haversack. In Canada, this was followed exactly, though there were many differences between the individual parts of the kit.
Introductory Period-Specific Kit Examples:[]
Canadian Light Mk. I partial kit - B4D
Example contents of a standard service wartime kit as follows:[]
- Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian Mk. I or II Facepiece (Mk. I photographed)
- Container, Light, Mk. I or II & Plugs, Sealing, Mk. I (Mk. II photographed)
- Outfit, Anti-Dimming, Mk. VI
- Ointment, Anti-Gas, No. 5
- Eyeshields, Anti-Gas, Mk. II
- Waste, Cotton, 1oz
- Cleaning Cloth
- 2x Pairs of Detectors, Sleeve
- Haversack, Respirator, Light, Canadian, No. L1 Mk. II
Example contents of a comms-user issue kit as follows:[]
- Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian Mk. III(?)
- Container, Light, Mk. I or II & Plugs, Sealing, Mk. I (Mk. II photographed)
- Outfit, Anti-Dimming, Mk. VI
- Ointment, Anti-Gas, No. 5
- Eyeshields, Anti-Gas, Mk. II
- Waste, Cotton, 1oz
- Cleaning Cloth
- 2x Pairs of Detectors, Sleeve
- Haversack, Respirator, Light, Canadian, No. L1 Mk. II
Example contents of a standard service post-war kit as follows:[]
- Respirator, Anti-Gas, Light, Canadian Mk. I or II Facepiece, or No. 2 Mk. 2 NBCW Variant (Mk. I photographed)
- Canister, M11
- Outfit, Anti-Dimming, Mk. VI
- Ointment, Anti-Gas, No. 5
- Eyeshields, Anti-Gas, Mk. II
- Waste, Cotton, 1oz
- Cleaning Cloth
- Haversack, Respirator, Light, Canadian, Unknown Post-War Type
Container, Light[]
Canadian Container, Light, Mk. I:[]
Content
- photo later
Canadian Container, Light, Mk. II:[]
Content
- table of charcoal codes to be added
Plugs, Sealing[]
Content
- Rubber and Cork types
US M11 Canister[]
Content
Haversack, Respirator, Light[]
Canadian Haversack, Respirator, Light, No. L1, Mk. II:[]
The haversack used since 1942 with the Canadian Light AG Respirator Respirator was known as the L1 Mk. II Haversack however, it was not an exact copy of the British L1 Mk. II and was something of an amalgamation of the L1 Mk. I and L1 Mk. II haversacks.
For context, the L1 Mk. I can be identified by its use of a 19 mm (3/4 inch) thick canvas pull-tab and a wavey-shaped loop. The L1 Mk. II, on the other hand, features a 25 mm (full inch) webbing pull-tab, sometimes with a metal cap riveted to the end, with a rectangular loop.
The Canadian Light II uses a webbing pull-tab, much like the British Light II, however, one noted version cuts it at 19 mm (3/4 of an inch) width and features the same loop as seen on the L1 Mk. I Haversack. A second version of the Light II cuts it at 14 mm (1/2") width with a wavy shaped loop.
The Canadian haversack has been noted in two colour patterns. The first is distinguished by its use of a tan colour for the body and green for the side faces of the lid (not unlike the Tropical variant of the Australian Light II haversack used with the ALAG). The second used all tan panels.
British L1 Mk. I, L1 Mk. II & Canadian Mk II Light Havesacks
Here is an example of the British L1 Mk. I, L1 Mk. II and the Canadian L1 Mk. II haversacks for reference.
CDN haversack all tan (1944)
Here is an example of a Canadian issue, 1944 Light II with all tan panels, 14 mm wide pull-tab and metal rings with strap.
Eyeshields & Ointment[]
Eyeshields, Anti-Gas, Mk. II & Ointment, Anti-Gas, CWL/5:[]
As with British kits, a pack of Anti-Gas Eyeshields was packed into the back pocket of the Light II haversack. Whilst the British typically seemed to pack Mk. I or Mk. III Eyeshields in Light Anti-Gas Respirator kits, the Canadians seemingly used Mk. II Eyeshields most commonly. The Mk. II Eyeshields reduced the design of the Mk. I Eyeshields by removing the fabric tape lining along the outside of the cellophane.
Canadian packs of Eyeshields can be identified by the manufacturer M.W.S Ltd. Whilst it is unclear if any other company manufactured the Eyeshields, M.W.S Ltd. is the only company that has been identified thus far. Aside from this, the Canadian Eyeshields, or at least the container, can be identified by the Canadian version of the Broad Arrow.
As for the Ointment, a 1944 document held at the Kew Archives mentions the designation CWL/1. However, based on examples in my own collection and in the collection of the unknown War Relics user (as seen above), it is clear that Canada merely used the same types of Ointment as Britain, however, it is possible that the Ointment itself was designated under another name. As of now, examples of Canadian Ointment No. 2 have been found, identifiable by the Canadian Broad Arrow and, the type which would have been used with the Canadian Light AG Respirator, the Canadian No. 5 Ointment, identified by the "(Canadian)" print next to the name.
Anti-Dimming Cloth[]
Outfit, Anti-Dimming, Mk. VI:[]
Made by the American Can Company, tins of Outfit, Anti-Dimming No. VI were also packed in the Canadian Light AG Respirator kits, at least during the war. Compared to the British, the tins, themselves, were identical besides the "CANCO" stamp. The cloth was unmarked, unlike the British version, but was made of the same material and impregnated with the same Anti-Dimming Oil. Examples found in good condition will typically have a slight damp feel about them. An example like this has not yet been found in Britain so there is a possibility there was some variation in materials/oil.
Additional Kit Contents[]
Much like the British Kits, Canadian Canadian Light AG Respirator kits were issued with a 1oz handful of cotton waste. It can be confirmed from the picture at the top of this section that all of the above contents were, in fact, part of the standard wartime kits. However, what is interesting is that a 1944 facepiece is packed with the earlier-type No. 5 Ointment. Perhaps Canada did not upgrade to the No. 6 or No. 6 Tropical type, at least during the war.
History & Use[]
References[]
- Examples from the collections of Baroque4Days, Pat Feeney, GasMasksUK, J. J. Moller and Alexandre Hubert (GMCC)
- Regulations for Army Ordnance Services Part 8: Respirators, Anti-Gas, Light (Command of the Army Council)
- Various documents from the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton and the Chemical Warfare Laboratory, Ontario, held at the War Office, United Kingdom.