Why did WW1 soldiers Where capes ?
The cape or poncho was part of the standard kit issue, as said above to be used as a waterproof groundsheet and for wearing on duty to keep the rain off. There was another use, and this gave rise to their later name of Gas Cape. Mustard gas was used during WW1, the gas would settle on a soldiers uniform and would cause severe burns even after the attack if soaked into a uniform. During gas attacks a soldier would don his gasmask and then squat pulling the gas cape around him like a tent so it could be removed quickley after the attack and washed or removed and the soldier was ready for the enemy infantry that often followed the attack. Found a good picture of the kit in the link below, pic of the cape is at the bottom of the page. Do an image search for “mustard gas burns” to see pictures of the effects on unprotected soldiers *WARNING* if you do be warded some pictures may be distressing, mustard gas burns aren’t pretty.
I thinks this translates as ‘Why did WW1 soldiers wear capes’. The capes were waterproof gabardine cloth. Their uniforms were not waterproof and made of wool. The easiest and cheapest way to make the soldiers waterproof was to issue capes. Making waterproof uniforms would have been far more expensive in time, materials and labour costs.
