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Background information
Gas was used during the First World War to cause panic and fear, however it wasn’t a major cause of death due to there only being 6,000 British soldiers dying as a result of these gas attacks. There were 3 types of gases used on the western front: Chlorine
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1 Describe key features.
One key feature of mustard gas was that it was odourless, this means that soldiers on the western front didn’t see the gas before they died.
A second key feature mustard gas was that it worked within 12 hours, this meant that it was a slow and painful death.
2a How useful is source A for an enquiry into the effects of a gas attack?
Source A is a painting by John Singer Sargent in 1919. This source is useful because it shows the effects of mustard gas on the western front. For example, it shows that the men effected had injuries that include blindness, headache, tiredness and terrific thirst. We know this because many men are lying on the ground, drinking water and holding clothes to their eyes. The artist, John Singer Sargent visited both Arras and Ypres before the end of the war, this meant that he saw the gas being used first hand and therefore be more accurate. Its purpose was to show people the effect that mustard gas had on men on the Western Front.
However, this is source may not be very useful because the artist could have exaggerated the painting with the purpose to show others, therefore it is a non-personal account. Furthermore, it only shows the effects of mustard gas and not chlorine or Phosgene, therefore it is very limited due to the fact that it doesn’t gave a wide range of information about other gases.
One key feature of mustard gas was that it was odourless, this means that soldiers on the western front didn’t see the gas before they died.
A second key feature mustard gas was that it worked within 12 hours, this meant that it was a slow and painful death.
2a How useful is source A for an enquiry into the effects of a gas attack?
Source A is a painting by John Singer Sargent in 1919. This source is useful because it shows the effects of mustard gas on the western front. For example, it shows that the men effected had injuries that include blindness, headache, tiredness and terrific thirst. We know this because many men are lying on the ground, drinking water and holding clothes to their eyes. The artist, John Singer Sargent visited both Arras and Ypres before the end of the war, this meant that he saw the gas being used first hand and therefore be more accurate. Its purpose was to show people the effect that mustard gas had on men on the Western Front.
However, this is source may not be very useful because the artist could have exaggerated the painting with the purpose to show others, therefore it is a non-personal account. Furthermore, it only shows the effects of mustard gas and not chlorine or Phosgene, therefore it is very limited due to the fact that it doesn’t gave a wide range of information about other gases.