Malta’s Anti-Gas Precautions (1934-1940)
During the Abyssinian Crisis Malta braced for a possible Italian invasion of the island, despite possessing insufficient resources. For example, in October 1935 in Marfa ridge there were 12 machine guns and guns per 200 yards but only one hundred men. Besides the problem of deterring enemy landings, the anxiety of controlling internal panic caused by bombing was also gravely felt. This was an issue which local authorities could not keep up with in the event of an attack, especially one involving gas. It is for such reasons that a local Air Raid Precautions (ARP) committee was formed. They met for the first time on the 20th of December 1934, just after the Walwal incident.
Much like the precautions in the UK, the first step Malta took towards defending itself against a gas attack was to understand the effects of such an eventuality. Certain tests were done, such as a sample of Maltese limestone sent to the UK to determine the effect of gas on it. It is important to understand that ‘gas’ was the term used to refer to specific chemical agents such as lewisite, adamsite, chlorine, phosgene or sulfur mustard, better known as mustard gas, as well as tear gas. All were used during the First World War with deadly effect. It effectively repelled the enemy from entrenched positions, withheld assaults, or simply created mass confusion. The Geneva protocol signed in 1925 forbade the use of chemical weapons but did not hinder the production or trade of such weapons, even if it was ratified and fully enforced by its signatories. Much like the impotence of the Hague Peace Conferences of 1899 and 1907, legal obstacles did not enjoy the trust of the world to stop chemical warfare from happening again.
With Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, the A.R.P. in Malta would see an increasing number of responsibilities as the island’s passive defence scheme developed and matured. Projects for key roads and access points were to be modified, constructed, or repaired were approved. Most importantly, public precautions against a gas-attack were extensively discussed and implemented, including the completion of a passive defence scheme by 1935. People were advised to make gas-proof rooms in their homes. Instructions were sent out for families to select a room on a second floor with as little opening as possible. During an air raid, the door needed to be kept closed with a damp blanket covering it on the outside. A damp blanket was also used to block off any gas from seeping through windows and any other apertures. This room would have had, ideally, some cold food in the event of a prolonged stay. By 1935 around 500 gas-proof rooms were registered in Malta. Others kept the necessary material ready for the eventuality of war. In August there were 19 designated public shelters as well, converted from railway tunnels and Church halls and crypts.
Another important step to train people in anti-gas measures was the establishment of a school for such purposes. In 1935 the Corradino anti-gas school was also opened, simply known as the ‘Corradino Anti-Gas School’. It had its own gas chamber and ample space to practise gas decontamination procedures as well as ample first aid courses. The institution also trained the local police force and civilian personnel who formed part of the Passive Defence Scheme (such as the Public Works Department) but also members of the three services. Lectures for the public were also organised in some localities on anti-gas precautions by qualified individuals such as A.V. Bernard, then acting chief government medical officer. private importers such as Attard and Co. imported gas masks for private purchase, addressing the island’s rampant preparations (with some panic) for a possible war against Italy.
Our first little effort was that of listening to the outline of what our work was to be. From that we moved on to a detailed explanation of the gas mask. We were told nearly all that is known about this useful item, how to tell when they get defective, the way to preserve and clean them, and the correct way to wear them. From this, we went through the drill of putting them on. I suppose that when the time comes for using a mask one wants to get it on as quickly as possible and we soon realised that to combine speed with safety called for constant repetition. In fact, as my “opposite number” remarked, “It’s like playing a piano: practice makes perfect”. At the end of the first week, we could don our masks in five seconds, which didn’t strike me as being bad going.
A study of Lewisite and Mustard gas formed an important part of the curriculum. This included practical work in the very latest methods of combating the effect of both. The work was made as realistic as possible, and was divided into (a) Decontamination; (b) Rescue work; and (c) First Aid. I believe all of us found this extremely interesting. In the course of this, we were introduced to the effect of tear gas. It was enough to make one weep!
The lecture at the University was of absorbing interest. The pictures thrown on the screen showed us exactly what we were dealing with, and made abundantly clear the reason for the extreme care that is exercised when dealing with personnel or material affected with gas.”- ‘With the passive Defence Service’ by ‘One of Them’, The Times of Malta, 4th October 1935.
Passive defence reserves were trained for the eventuality of war. Lessons on respirator drill and decontamination procedures were instructed in Government schools around Malta to Police reserves and volunteers, the latter were earmarked become employed in their trained role at the outbreak of war. At the same, vast quantities of civilian respirators were purchased as well as those for civil defence personnel. Gas decontamination centres and their layouts were planned as well as the necessary budget to equip and maintain them. These centres were equipped with all material needed to receive patients, remove all clothing, thoroughly wash them, and pass them on to an attending physician. An expert on decontamination by the name of Captain Morgan was also brought to Malta in August of 1935. On paper, the purchase was split into four phases, the first (‘B’ and ‘D’) being that required for training in schools with 200 respirators, civilian and service. Period ‘D’ would see the equipment of leaders and essential services, requiring 4000 respirators. The 2nd stage commenced period “F” in which further equipment was distributed including 7,900 civilian respirators and another 2,400 service respirators. population. The last phase (‘G’) was termed the “precautionary period” in which 60,000 civil gas masks would be distributed.
Most importantly, experts were brought from the UK to address Malta’s defence measures The most critical and influential document in the creation of Malta’s Passive Defence scheme (including against gas attack) is the report prepared by G.D. Kirwan and Major A.T. Sumner, who arrived in Malta in September of 1935. These were representatives from the UK on behalf of the ARP (Home Office) and the Chemical Research department (War Office). Their report went into great detail on the effects of a gas attack not only on Malta but how it would affect different towns and cityscapes. Wind direction and strength, temperature, street angles, paving materials were considered in these reports, predicting how they could affect the spread of gas as it dissipated. Just as importantly, they articulated and listed schemes Malta could implement to develop its Passive Defence scheme against gas. Key recommendations were made such as the setting up of gas decontamination squads and centres, both of which would eventually be implemented.
After the Abyssinian war, a lull in local defence development would soon end as the Spanish civil war flared up conflict in Europe. Developments in Spain also gave a glimpse on new strategies and conduct of war. Between 1938 and 1939, as the worst became slowly inevitable and Malta prepared, the likelihood of gas attacks receded and the possibility of high-explosive bombing as used in the Spanish Civil War became a bigger concern. However, a gas attack was still considered entirely possible and local Passive Defence measures were in place to address that eventuality. Civilian gas masks were distributed. Some local shelters had anti-gas measures implemented such as gas-protected doors, as suggested by Kirwan and Sumner back in 1935. Just before the war started, Maltese people also felt that a gas attack was a very possible nightmare.
There is nothing to prove that we shall not be subjected to an air-raid which will include a nice taste of high explosive and mustard gas, on the contrary, modern aeroplanes have given enough proof of long distance flying and fighting a nation like Germany, it is to be expected that gas will be used as it was used during the last Great War. Under the circumstances, what has the Government done to cope with this highly probable emergency which is practically sure to arrive when the weather permits?” – ‘Are We Prepared?’, Daily Malta Chronicle, 7th February 1940.
In the end, gas was never dropped on Malta throughout the war and, as correctly predicted, high-explosive bombs were used extensively. One can find mentions of gas masks being used to exit or navigate freshly collapsed buildings with a concentration of dust in the air but they were never used for their original intended purpose. However, for the ARP and the military establishment gas precautions were still of utmost priority. Gas masks and gas capes were still mentioned in equipment registers and related instructions for British infantry regiments in Malta well into the war. Training such as weapon disassembly and target practice was also partially conducted with gas masks and related equipment worn. To this day, civilian gas-masks can be found in local private collections, still boxed up in their original packages. Thankfully, never used.
By Nikolai Debono, on behalf of Battlefront Malta
Sources
Debates of the Council of Government, 1939-1942, several volumes, Government Printing Office, Malta.
‘Malta: Anti-gas squads and decontamination centres’: FCO 141 8428, the National Archives, Kew, (TNA).
‘Malta: Civil air raid precautions’, FCO 141 11758, “ .
‘Malta: Passive Defence’, FCO 141 8463, “ .
‘Malta: Passive defence scheme’, FCO 141 11724, “ .
‘Malta: Strength of Garrison’, FCO 141 8370, ” .
‘Malta: Works to be carried out by the PWD with a view to assisting military garrison in defence of Malta, FCO 141 8448, “ .