Highlanders And Mustard Gas

[MiloMorai]

As well as attacking the lungs if inhaled, which affected all troops the same, externally it also caused dreadful burns and blisters to exposed areas of skin, especially to moist parts of the body. Since most Highland soldiers had nothing but their bare skin under the kilt, they felt particularly exposed to attack by mustard gas. As a result, at one stage, long drawers, which covered the skin completely from waist to hose, were issued to at least some units. It is uncertain how widely these were issued, and how often they were worn, but the practice was clearly not universal, even in the trenches.

 

[Marek Tucan]

IIRC before these came, ladie's pantyhose was used for the effect.

[Richard Lindquist]

IIRC before these came, ladie's pantyhose was used for the effect.

Ummm, pantyhose were a 1960s invention.

 

US troops going into the South Pacific jungles in WWII were issued uniforms which had been chemically impregnated against blister gases. Guess how well those uniforms "breathed" in the heat and humidity.

[Markus Becker]

but the practice was clearly not universal, even in the trenches.

 

They expose their family jewels to gassing to prove their manhood? Lunatics!