Need help identifying a piece of Militaria. “For Firefighting Only”.

[inthehizzy]

Was recently gifted some WWII kit from my ailing father to be passed down the line from his re-enacting days. While I recognize most kit and their markings : Tunics, trousers, webbing, packs, berets & cap badges, gaiters, helmets, leather jerkins, etc… This “For Firefighting Only” satchel is alien to me. The markings are C-Broad arrow. L.67.853 have yielded nothing while searching the Internet.

Our family has owned a 1942 Willy MB Jeep since I was knee-high to a grass-hopper. My grandfather was an MP in the ETO and retired as a civilian police officer (OPP/Renfrew Police Dept.) after the war. I myself am a Paramedic and work alongside our OPP colleagues and Volunteer FF’s every shift.

I’d like to donate this and a couple period era Pyrene brass fire extinguishers (surplus our needs, pictures not my own) to our local volunteer fire hall Stn. 1/HQ for their display cabinet in the lobby, alongside all sorts of vintage FF kit.

I just don’t know what I’m looking at here with the bag.

Can anyone here with more knowledge than me share some insight? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[.22LRGUY]

Not 100% sure, as I only learned about bags like this through someone on CGN...but I think what you have there is a WW1-era, gas-mask bag. I've been carrying/using one of these (found in my grandfather's shed around 1981) for decades....before I looked into what it was. Someone here told me, then I searched for (and found) one in new condition. Mine was falling apart, but still in service. I'd hand-sewn repairs a number of times.

Guessing that bag might have been repurposed, but when you Google "WW1 gas mask bag" you find links like this. Good luck!

https://griffinmilitaria.com/product/named-wwi-78th-division-gas-mask-in-carrying-bag/

 

[koldt]

The bag is a standard Canadian WW2 gas mask bag, re-purposed. The fire extinguisher was multi use, vehicles, static, aircraft, where ever needed.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

That fire extinguisher is carbon tetra chloride, nasty stuff that turns to phosgene gas when exposed to a fire.

 

[toxic]

That fire extinguisher is carbon tetra chloride, nasty stuff that turns to phosgene gas when exposed to a fire.

That's my suspicion also. It can be drained, the carbon tet disposed and the container kept as a museum piece. But should be done with proper precautions. I've done that in the past even for the glass bulbs - but I worked in the hazmat disposal world so precautions were "handy".

 

[Ex3dy]

I would interpret the "for firefighting use only" as meaning the gas mask was unsuitable for chemical warfare.