'American Forces in London' printed rayon gauze scarf, Jacqmar, designed by Arnold Lever, British, 1943

Printed silk [or possibly rayon] gauze scarf with a hand-rolled hem. There is a dark pink border and a pale green ground with a few small white stars. Various scenes and titles are printed between the border and the ground. On all four sides is: "The American Forces in London by Jacqmar".
The scenes are:
'Blitz of Britain': two US soldiers talking to a policeman.
'St Pauls': a bus stop and a business man wearing a bowler hat.
'Home Guard be careful': two soldiers of the Home Guard.
'Westminster Abbey' and 'The Houses of Parliament': a piano on wheels and a man playing it; chalked on the side of the piano is 'Old Soldiers Never Die'; a group of US soldiers singing 'My Old Kentucky Home'; three sailors, one of whom is French; three US soldiers and 2 British soldiers.
'Piccadilly': the statue of Eros is boarded-up; a Scots soldier in a kilt and a French army officer.
'The US Embassy': US soldiers
'Hyde Park': a taxi and two US sailors.
'The Speakers' [Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park]: an anti-aircraft gun, speakers on soapboxes, two US sailors.
'The Sparrows': birds.

Given by Anthony Abrahams

Many of these scarves were exported to the USA

This scarf was designed and produced as a suitable item for members of the American Armed Forces to buy and send back to the States as a gift – a souvenir from England. The United States entered the War against Germany, Italy, Japan and their allies at the end of 1942 and by 1943 substantial numbers of US soldiers, sailors and airmen were stationed in Britain.

By that time Britain was in the fourth year of the War and her population, cities and ports had suffered almost nightly aerial bombardment. This scarf is interesting because it shows how one designer wanted to portray the spirit of London, and Britain, to its new ally. The main sights of the capital are here and the US Embassy has been included to appeal to the potential buyers. The armed forces of many nations found a temporary home in Britain shown by the French figure in this design together with a kilted Scots soldier. There are also two soldiers of the Home Guard, a typical policeman and a bowler-hatted businessman.

T.1-2003