‘If You Smell Geraniums — You’re dead!’

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Owen, Feb 24, 2013.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just been reading about this in a book review in a gardening magazine.

    ‘If You Smell Geraniums — You’re dead!’
    The Government issued leaflet to the public as they were worried the Luftwaffe would drop blister agent that smelt like Gernaiums , (pelargoniums to be more accurate).

    Does anyone have a copy of one of those leaflets ?

    Had a look on IWM site & couldnt find one.

    This is all I could find about it.
    BBC - WW2 People's War - If You Smell Geraniums
     
  2. Hebridean Chindit

    Hebridean Chindit Lost in review... Patron

    Found this piece...

    World War II, Gas

    ALL GAS

    If you get a choking feeling, and a smell of musty hay,
    You can bet your bottom Dollar that there’s phosgene on the way.
    But the smell of bleaching powder will inevitably mean
    That the enemy you are meeting is the gas we call chlorine.
    When your eyes begin twitching, and for tears you cannot see,
    t is’nt mother peeling onions, but a dose of C.A.P.
    If the smell resembles pear drops, then you’d better not delay,
    It’s not father sucking toffee, it's that ruddy K.S.K.
    If you catch a pungent odour as you are coming home for tea,
    You can safely put your shirt on it, they’re using B.B.C.
    And lastly, while geraniums look pleasant in a bed,
    Beware their smell in war-time; if its lewisite, you’re dead.


    ARP Notice. WW2
     
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  3. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Attached Files:

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  4. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Cheers chaps.
    My internet searching skills were sadly lacking on this one.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Attached Files:

  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Gardening magazines ? There is an attraction and my order for the journal is in the post:




    lewisitegas.jpg
     

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