---
title: They Gave Their Lives! Will You Replace Their Ships?
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-they-gave-their-lives-replace-ships-1942/
description: A collage of newspaper clippings headed 'List 642 Canadian Merchant Sailors As Dead' shows rows of named portrait photographs around an aerial photograph
section: Collection
---

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3. They Gave Their Lives! Will You Replace Their Ships?

[![They Gave Their Lives! Will You Replace Their Ships?, 1942 Canada poster: A collage of newspaper clippings headed 'List 642](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-they-gave-their-lives-replace-ships-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-they-gave-their-lives-replace-ships-1942.jpg)

# They Gave Their Lives! Will You Replace Their Ships?

A collage of newspaper clippings headed 'List 642 Canadian Merchant Sailors As Dead' shows rows of named portrait photographs around an aerial photograph of a merchant convoy. The tell is transfer: the sailors' deaths and the real casualty list are attached to a request that the viewer help replace the lost ships.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
They gave their lives!

List 642 Canadian Merchant Sailors As Dead
THESE MEN DEAD, MISSING OR PRESUMED DEAD
Merchant Seamen Casualty List

WILL YOU
REPLACE THEIR
SHIPS?

This message is issued by the Department of Munitions and Supply for Canada
```

[← Speaking of Sacrifice](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-speaking-of-sacrifice-1942/) [They're Smashing Them Up ... With MY Ship! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-theyre-smashing-them-up-with-my-ship-taber-1942/)

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- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
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