Yes and no. Actually a "sprinkler system", for want of a better phrase, was installed on beaches to the low water mark. Petrol was pumped down the tubes and sprayed out of holes along the way, which was lighted. This is what was photographed.phylo_roadking wrote:.. As early as the summer of 1940 there were those plans - tested and filmed - to use burning oil on the surface of the water to defend against invasion...
The widely spread rumour that the "sea could be set on fire" was just that, a deliberately planted rumour spread by the British psychological warfare department.
More details about it in my article here:
http://www.psywar.org/sibs.php
Re: Gas, as has already been shown Britain certainly prepared to use it if invaded or if Germany resorted to the use of.
In 1943 leaflets were dropped over Germany warning them that if the Wehrmacht used gas on the Eastern Front, Britain would respond in kind on Germany.
One leaflet read:
See here for the actual leaflet: http://www.psywar.org/apddetailsdb.php?detail=1943G028On the 21 April, 1943, the British Government made the following
declaration: Reports are being received from several sources that
Hitler is making preparations for using poison gas on the Eastern
Front. The British Government therefore repeat the warning already
given by Prime Minister Churchill last year that any use of poison gas
against Britain’s Russian ally will be followed immediately by the
adoption of the same process of war by Britain. It will be employed to
the fullest possible extent against German munition centres,
seaports, and other military objectives throughout the whole extent of
Germany. British resources and scale of delivery have greatly
increased since last year. The appropriate authorities all over the
country have been ordered to take the necessary measures against
any German reprisals.
Another interesting one here: http://www.psywar.org/apddetailsdb.php?detail=1942G025
Lee
PsyWar.Org