---
title: Wasted Petrol is Another Ship Lost
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-wasted-petrol-is-another-ship-lost-1939/
description: A downward arrow carries the word WASTED over a lorry and a motorcycle, while a sinking ship is drawn across the word PETROL. The text says 'You wouldn't
section: Collection
---

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3. Wasted Petrol is Another Ship Lost

[![Wasted Petrol is Another Ship Lost, 1939 UK poster: A downward arrow carries the word WASTED over a lorry and a motorcycle](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-wasted-petrol-is-another-ship-lost-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uk-wasted-petrol-is-another-ship-lost-1939.jpg)

# Wasted Petrol is Another Ship Lost

A downward arrow carries the word WASTED over a lorry and a motorcycle, while a sinking ship is drawn across the word PETROL. The text says 'You wouldn't risk being killed for a gallon of petrol or a joyride, so don't make seamen do it for you', tying private fuel use to sailors' deaths (fear-appeal).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

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

```
A. GAMES R.E.

WASTED
PETROL
IS ANOTHER SHIP LOST

YOU WOULDN'T RISK BEING KILLED FOR A GALLON OF PETROL
OR A JOYRIDE, SO DON'T MAKE SEAMEN DO IT FOR YOU

Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Elm Press (N.R.P. Co., Ltd.), 51-1958
C.G.E. P.R2 57
```

[← Wasted Food is Another Ship Lost](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-wasted-food-is-another-ship-lost-games-1939/) [Watch Your Talk for His Sake →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uk-watch-your-talk-for-his-sake-1939/)

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- [Miniature of Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, Les Passages d'outremer (BnF Fr. 5594, fol. 19r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passages-doutremer-council-of-clermont-colombe-1474/) (France · 1474 · Testimonial, Fear appeal). Content note: Medieval religious imagery and a French text describing alleged killings and captivity of eastern Christians, as used to argue for the First Crusade; the text is shown as written.
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- [Gazette of the United States, "The Jeffersoniad" no. VIII, 14 August 1800](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gazette-us-jeffersoniad-1800/) (United States · Aug 14, 1800 · Name-calling, Fear appeal)
- [Tyrants Prostrate, Liberty Triumphant (pro-Polk cartoon on Dorr), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/tyrants-prostrate-liberty-triumphant-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Fear appeal). Content note: Speech balloons contain anti-Catholic and nativist wording ('the ruins of Popery') in the mouths of the Whig figures, written by a Democratic cartoonist and shown unaltered.
- [Brolej Žemajčiaj! (Brothers Samogitians!): hand-painted broken-cross poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/brolej-zemajciaj-broken-cross-1862/) (Russian Empire · 1862 · Fear appeal, Transfer)