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
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- His Majesty's Stationery Office (petrol economy campaign); artist Abram Games; printer Elm Press (N.R.P. Co., Ltd.)
- 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)
His Majesty's Stationery Office; artist Abram Games; printer Elm Press (N.R.P. Co., Ltd.). National Archives and Records Administration, NAID 44266384 (44-PF-142d).
Text on the object
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
