The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
British Second World War cautionary poster issued by the Ministry of Information. It depicts two men talking in a Club, in front of a portrait of King Charles II with the face of Adolf Hitler. The image is in the top half of the poster with text, in black, beneath. both are set against a white background framed with a red border. This one is part of a series of 'careless talk costs lives' posters by Cyril Kenneth Bird (1887-1965). He began his career as an engineer, but was badly injured at Gallipoli in World War One. Bird, who was a Punch cartoonist, took on the 'Fougasse' pseudonym in the First World War, after the French term for a small land mine 'which might or might not hit the mark'. Fougasse's 'careless talk costs lives' campaign was stunningly successful in the Second World War. His approach to the propaganda poster was based on overcoming three obstacles. He wrote:
'Firstly, a general aversion to reading any notice of any sort; secondly, a general disinclination to believe that any notice, even if it was read, can possibly be addressed to oneself; thirdly, a general unwillingness even so to remember the message long enough to do anything about it.'
In overcoming these obstacles, Fougasse used a simple approach: humour, simple stylisation and the uncomplicated communication of messages.
It was first published in February 1940 as a series of different designs relating to 'careless talk'.
Bird produced his posters for many different British Ministries during the war, and always did so for free.
This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.
British Second World War cautionary poster depicts two women having tea. The wallpaper is a repeat pattern of Adolf Hitler's head. This one of a series of 'careless talk costs lives' posters by Cyril
British Second World War poster depicts two men in discussion with Adolf Hitler listening through an open window. This one is part of a series of 'careless talk costs lives' posters by Cyril Kenneth B
British Second World War cautionary poster issued by the Ministry of Information. It depicts two women talking on a train, with Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering listening from the seat behind them. Th
British Second World War cautionary poster issued by the Ministry of Information. It depicts two women talking on a train, with Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goering listening from the seat behind them. Th
British Second World War poster depicts a man in a blue coat and yellow pants talking in a red phone booth, imploring the listener not to tell anyone that he had told them. The image is surrounded wit
British Second World War poster depicts a man in a blue coat and yellow pants talking in a red phone booth, imploring the listener not to tell anyone that he had told them. The image is surrounded wit
