If, after Rudyard Kipling (savings group verse)
A printed verse parodies Kipling's 'If' to urge factory workers to join a savings group, raise their weekly contribution and hold their Savings Certificates until the war is won. Kipling's famous poem is borrowed as the frame (transfer), and the closing 'I know you can, my son' casts the saver in its role.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- National Savings Committee, London (verse by 'A.L.S.', secretary of an aircraft-factory savings group)
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- Economy and finance, Labor, Home front
- 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)
National Savings Committee, London (verse by 'A.L.S.', secretary of an aircraft-factory savings group). National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), World War II Foreign Posters, NAID 44266672.
Text on the object
IF AFTER RUDYARD KIPLING IF you can join the Group whilst fellow workers Are hanging back and leaving it to you — IF you can pay your sub. and show the shirkers You're out to beat "Old Nasty" and his crew — IF you can urge them to the resolution To sign the form and undertake their share — IF you can raise your weekly contribution, Another sixpence here, a sixpence there — IF you can watch your savings ever growing With more Certificates at fifteen bob, And watching them, can feel a pride at knowing They go to help Old England do her job — IF you can keep your Book and all that's in it, Nor seek repayment till the fight is won, PEACE SHALL BE YOURS, FOR YOU WILL HELP TO WIN IT — And what is more, I know you CAN, my son ! A. L. S. W.F.P. 139 COMPOSED BY THE HON. SECRETARY OF THE SAVINGS GROUP IN AN AIRCRAFT FACTORY AND ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL SAVINGS COMMITTEE, LONDON 51-8925
