Check Their Identity by the A.B. 64: Soldiers and A.T.S.
A large photographic face looms over a reproduction of an Army Book 64 and its open pages, with red arrows marking details to check. The closing line, 'Beware! The enemy may use false A.B.64s', is the fear appeal; the rest is procedural instruction to sentries and checkpoint troops.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1940
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- British War Office poster, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by W. R. Royle & Son Ltd.; artist Abram Games
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Security and surveillance
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
British War Office poster, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by W. R. Royle & Son Ltd.; artist Abram Games. National Archives and Records Administration, WWII Foreign Posters (NAID 44266364, 44-PF-135).
Text on the object
CHECK THEIR IDENTITY BY THE A.B.64 SOLDIERS AND A.T.S ARMY BOOK 64. SOLDIER'S SERVICE AND PAY BOOK. LOOK FOR THESE POINTS Place of birth and nationality of father and mother at birth are not entered National Health Insurance is essentially an English idea. Interrogation on this score may well floor a foreigner with a stolen A.B.64. N.B. Some holders are not insured and therefore will not have these details completed Check date of enlistment on page 2 against details of leave, dates of inoculations and courses attended on pages 4 - 9. Although signed by the holder this page is NOT filled in with holder's own handwriting; if in doubt obtain specimen signature and compare. Normally bears no photograph or stamp of issuing authority. AN A.B.64 CONTAINS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE HOLDER, SO THAT IDENTITY CAN READILY BE ESTABLISHED. IF IN DOUBT RETAIN A.B.64 AND INTERROGATE. An A.B. 64 contains photograph of holder and stamp of issuing authority when holder has been on leave to Eire or to or from Northern Ireland. Allied forces carry the usual A.B. 64 with nationality endorsed, plus photograph of holder. Sailors and Royal Marines—similar to A.B. 64, issued in various colours and photograph attached. R.A.F. and W.A.A.F.—blue identity cards with photographs. BEWARE! THE ENEMY MAY USE FALSE A.B.64s PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY W. R. ROYLE & SON, LTD. P.R.106. A. GAMES
