Gas mask

In the run up to World War II, all adults and children were issued with gas masks in the expectation that the Germans would use poison gas during air raids. Young children aged between two and five years were issued with brightly coloured masks referred to as 'Mickey Mouse'. They had a red rubber nose and blue rims around the eyes. Their supposed resemblance to the Disney cartoon character was intended to make putting them on seem like dressing up. Despite government attempts to make the masks more appealing, there was no disguising the distinctive smell and feel of the rubber that made wearing the masks so hot and uncomfortable.