---
title: '''Back Room Boys'' They Also Serve'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-back-room-boys-they-also-serve-1939/
description: A London Transport poster in the 'Back Room Boys' series shows a pencil drawing of buses in a depot above a green text panel describing staff who prepare
section: Collection
---

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3. 'Back Room Boys' They Also Serve

[!['Back Room Boys' They Also Serve, 1939 UK poster: A London Transport poster in the 'Back Room Boys' series shows a pencil](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-back-room-boys-they-also-serve-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-back-room-boys-they-also-serve-1939.jpg)

# 'Back Room Boys' They Also Serve

A London Transport poster in the 'Back Room Boys' series shows a pencil drawing of buses in a depot above a green text panel describing staff who prepare railways, buses, trams and coaches for 'moving London's millions to and from their jobs'. The tell is the virtue phrase 'They also serve' and the praise of unseen staff 'keeping the wheels turning' (glittering generalities, plain-folks); it states no figures and names no enemy.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

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

```
'BACK ROOM BOYS'

Day and night throughout
the year work goes on
preparing the Railways
Buses, Trams and Coaches
for their daily task of
moving London's millions
to and from their jobs

The staff employed are the
'BACK ROOM BOYS' who
working behind the scenes
help to keep the
wheels turning

'THEY ALSO SERVE'
LONDON TRANSPORT
FRED TAYLOR
THE BAYNARD PRESS
```

[← 'Back Room Boys' They Also Serve - Power Control](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-back-room-boys-power-control-1939/) [Britain's New Airborne Army Goes into Action in Europe - Back Them Up! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-back-them-up-airborne-army-1939/)

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