Objects Database

Arctic Warfare Face Mask

Accession Number

1659.2022.1

Object Name

Arctic Warfare Face Mask

Created

11/05/2022

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

11/05/2022

Brief Description

A cotton face mask with eyeholes and ear loops.

Materials

Cotton,elastic

Dimensions

42(L) x 26(W) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

“FACE MASK (ECW) MKZ. FLAME RESISTANT”
G415-99-978-2182. CT34A/998. NAME. “

Colour

Cream

Provenance

Founder member of the collection, Mick Tighe, was a Mountain and Arctic Warfare Instructor in the Royal Marines many moons ago and actually used one of these masks’ in anger’ on several occasions, one of which is depicted opposite.
Their use was usually dictated by a very cold temperature combined with a high wind speed, giving what we call windchill - in extreme circumstances exposed flesh can freeze within minutes. The windchill chart opposite may help explain.
The downside of these masks was the condensation inside which subsequently froze though this was marginally better than getting frostbite!
Vast numbers of troops have died of frostbite and exposure ( the two invariably go together) over the centuries.
As recently as 2022, Russian soldiers were reported to have suffered during the invasion of Ukraine because of inadequate clothing.
Recent studies of the Inuit people of Greenland and Canada have revealed a better blood supply to the facial area than non Arctic folk.
We bought this particular mask on the internet for a couple of pounds in 2022 and suspect it dates from the 1970’s.

Acquisition Method

Bought on Internet

Acquisition Date

11/05/2022

Condition Check Date

11/05/2022

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

11/05/2022

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