Time to do a little research on something that has been #lurkingintheloft since inheriting from the out-laws a while back. No prizes for guessing what is in the bag... 1/

The haversack has two uneven pockets on the back. This together with the brass strap fixings lead me to believe this is a Mk VI gas mask haversack. The pockets were for anti-gas eyeshields and an anti-gas ointment tin... 2/

The stamp shows the haversack was made by Waring and Gillow Ltd in 1941... 3/

And so to the gas mask itself. This is a Mk IV General Service Respirator, introduced in 1926 and a huge improvement over those used in #WW1 It was in use with the army, police and civil defence at the start of #WW2

There are test date stamps and Lot numbers on the underside. The lot numbers meant that if a Respirator was found to be faulty the entire batch could be withdrawn. "Normal" is the size reference. There seems to be no maker reference... 5/

This is the filter container, model E Mk VI as evidenced by the brick red colour and manufactured from March 1940 on which ties in with the other dates. The slots are the air inlet. Most were made by Barringer, Wallis & Manners, a biscuit tin manufacturer 6/

These are the remaining contents of the haversack: field dressings, anti-gas ointment no. 2 and anti-dimming paste Mk V. The ointment was for the treatment of mustard gas burns and the paste to prevent lenses fogging up. I'm not going to open either of those 7/

Sadly the rubber of the GSR is perished and flaking. If anyone knows how to conserve it please let me know... 8/

There is one other thing with the bag, a dog tag. The next bit of research will begin shortly meantime I am going to pour a beer and sit in the garden for a bit. Toodle pip 9/

I must add, all this info came from this amazing little book from @crowoodpress