To the members of the A.E.U.
A red-printed leaflet-poster addressed to members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, with tanks and aircraft drawn along its edges, urges them to join Savings Groups in industry and cut unnecessary spending. It is signed by the union's president and general secretary, so the appeal rests on their names (testimonial).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1940
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- National Savings Committee (London) and Scottish Savings Committee (Edinburgh); printed for H.M. Stationery Office by W. R. Royle & Son, Ltd.
- 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
- 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 / Scottish Savings Committee, printed for H.M. Stationery Office by W. R. Royle & Son, Ltd., c. 1940-1941. National Archives and Records Administration (NAID 44267271).
Text on the object
To the members of the A.E.U. Many officials and members of the Union have responded to the appeal of the Executive Council in July 1940 actively to co-operate in the War Savings Campaign. They are serving as members of Trade Union Advisory Committees set up with the approval of the T.U.C. to assist the Campaign. They have provided speakers for meetings and have helped to organise the personal canvass of workers in factories and workshops in support of Savings Groups. Now a still greater effort is needed. In the dangerous months which lie ahead our own Forces and those of our Allies will need great quantities of arms and munitions. There is no doubt that we shall bend our backs to give them all we can. We must also face up to another duty-to cut out all unnecessary expenditure. Spending on things we do not need makes unnecessary demands on the labour of our comrades, on material, and on shipping space. It helps to delay the full use of reserves of material and labour for war purposes. We therefore urge that the greatest possible assistance should be given to the voluntary Savings Campaigns. Members of the Union are urgently needed to join and to help in the organisation of Savings Groups in Industry and to serve as members of Trade Union Advisory Committees. We appeal to you to give your wholehearted assistance wherever it is wanted. SIGNED Jack Tanner, PRESIDENT Fred A. Smith, GENERAL SECRETARY PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY W. R. ROYLE & SON, LTD. W.F.P. 220. Issued by the National Savings Committee, London and the Scottish Savings Committee, Edinburgh. 51-2473.
