Release More Coal for the War Drive
Three panels with a light switch, gas fire and tap tell householders to switch off lights, turn gas down and not waste water, each tied to coal and munitions. The tell for transfer is the link of small domestic habits to the war effort in the headline 'Release more coal for the war drive'.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- British government poster, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Fosh & Cross Ltd., London
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- 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)
H.M. Stationery Office, date unknown (1939-1945). U.S. National Archives (RG 44), World War II Foreign Posters.
Text on the object
Switch off that LIGHT! Use Electric appliances less. Cut down in Lighting, Heating and Cooking. Generating Electricity consumes coal. Coal is vitally needed for war production. Turn that GAS down! Never burn gas needlessly. Never have gas higher than you need for heating, cooking or lighting. Gas wasted means coal wasted instead of being used to make munitions. Don't waste WATER! Never wash under a running tap - use less water in your bath, in your kettle, and for washing up. Hot water takes fuel. Cold water uses power when it's pumped along mains. RELEASE MORE COAL FOR THE WAR DRIVE PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY FOSH & CROSS LTD., LONDON (51/9743)
