Wartime Tube Posters - London Transport Museum Talk

On Tuesday 1st March London Transport Museum will be hosting a talk on London Underground's poster campaign during the Second World War. As well as conveying essential information to staff & passengers, the posters tried to encourage thoughtful behaviour. Much of this was done through the humorous cartoons of Fougasse and David Langdon.

You might have seen the Billy Brown "the London Underground's most exemplary passenger" campaign, whose rather po-faced, 'do-gooder' advice was often spoofed.





For example, the common response to his "I trust you'll pardon my correction, that stuff is there for your protection" was "We thank you for your information, We're trying to see the bloody station".  London Transport thought if you can't beat them, join them and set up competitions for travellers to design their own rhyming couplets for Brown.

More direct appeals for co-operation, or advice on sheltering and the 'blackout' were expressed in easy to read layouts, perhaps wisely, without the use of humour. Other posters celebrated London Transport's contribution to the war effort and London's resilience.



Seeing it Through was a series of posters (see above) commissioned from Eric Henri Kennington by London Transport in 1944; they commemorated the everyday acts of heroism by civilian workers during the Second World War.

London Transport Museum's Head Curator David Bownes and art historian Jonathan Black, will cover the orgins of the posters from morale boosting propaganda to visions of post war society.

The talk starts at 6.30pm at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. Tickets are £8 for Adults; £6 for senior citizens and £4 for students. Telephone 020 7565 7298 to book your tickets.

You might also like

Aldywch Tube Station Blitz Tour - September 2010
London Underground - The Art of the Poster
Poster Journeys: Abram Games and London Transport