Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 3G, Shelf DR27

Our jungle fighters want socks - please knit now

Poster
ca. 1942 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster illustrates a wartime appeal that everyone could be involved in. The message is makes a plea on behalf of the British forces fighting in the jungles of Myanmar (then Burma) and India, during World War II. Knitting was an extremely popular pastime for women during the war. In the poor light of the air-raid shelter, knitting was something that women could do to alleviate boredom and anxiety. The poster uses a direct but spare design to show how even something as simple as knitting could be used to support the forces.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOur jungle fighters want socks - please knit now (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
'Our jungle fighters want socks - please knit now' World War II propaganda poster depicting two knitting needles with green socks, designed by Abram Games, printed for HMSO by J. Weiner Ltd, England (London), about 1941
Physical description
"Our jungle fighters want socks - please knit now" World War II propaganda poster depicting two knitting needles each wearing a green sock, and walking through a jumble of tangled wool. Above the image, in black, capitalised letters are the words, 'OUR JUNGLE FIGHTERS WANT SOCKS'. Below the image in large red capitalised letters is, 'PLEASE KNIT NOW', and below this in smaller black letters, 'FOR INFORMATION PATTERNS AND WOOL APPLY TO'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76.2cm
  • Width: 50.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'OUR JUNGLE FIGHTERS WANT SOCKS' (Above the image, in black, capitalised letters.)
  • 'PLEASE KNIT NOW / FOR INFORMATION PATTERNS AND WOOL APPLY TO' (Below the image in large red capitalised letters. The second line is printed in smaller black letters.)
  • 'A. GAMES' (Artist's signature, upper left corner)
  • 'PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY J. WEINER LTD., LONDON. W.C.1. 51-1754' (Printed, lower left-hand corner)
  • 'P.R.124' (Printed, lower right-hand corner)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Summary
This poster illustrates a wartime appeal that everyone could be involved in. The message is makes a plea on behalf of the British forces fighting in the jungles of Myanmar (then Burma) and India, during World War II. Knitting was an extremely popular pastime for women during the war. In the poor light of the air-raid shelter, knitting was something that women could do to alleviate boredom and anxiety. The poster uses a direct but spare design to show how even something as simple as knitting could be used to support the forces.
Other number
LS.2058 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.886-2004

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Record createdMarch 17, 2006
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