 |
Halfsheet vintage poster is a
World War II propaganda poster warning soldiers about enemy booby traps. It was published in 1944 by the British War Office and designed by an artist identified as "Rooke, SME".
Poster Details
Title: The poster features the main warning, "Think Twice, it may be a booby trap!". Another version of the full title is "Look Before You Touch. Beware The Booby Trap!".
Purpose: The poster was intended to educate and caution military personnel about the various forms of hidden explosives and traps used by the enemy, which were described as "quite diabolical". This aligns with broader propaganda efforts during the war to educate service members on their responsibilities and safety.
Artist/Publisher: The artwork is signed "Rooke, S.M.E.". It was printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) by Alf Cooke Ltd., Leeds and London, as "G.S. Poster No. 20".
Content: The central image shows a soldier with the text "it may be a booby trap!". The lower section displays several vignettes illustrating different potential traps, including:
Tripwires attached to pull igniters
Dangerous gifts left by the roadside (helmets, car parts)
Empty mine crates that aren't always harmless
Booby-trapped road obstacles like a heavy lorry
Abandoned vehicles planted to catch the unwary
This poster is an example of wartime material designed to increase situational awareness among troops to prevent casualties. |
|
|
