Item of the Month From David Gray

This poster was painted (in watercolour), by someone in 1944, possibly for a competition. There were many competitions to design National Savings posters during WWII. This one is framed which looks contemporary with the period, and judging by the quality of the work, the painting may even have been a winner. Winning posters were exhibited and often made into official posters.

This one is a bit different as the artist has chosen as the subject, the women’s section of the army, the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service). In the main image, three soldiers are seen saluting an officer. In the background under the American and British flags we can see a nurse, and on the right, a driver (holding a steering wheel). On the left we see another member of the ATS but it is a little more difficult to work out what she is doing. She seems to be holding a pointed stick. Could it be a rod with which to move objects round a plotting table? Either side of this image we can see representations of savings stamps, three stamps either side.

This is a charming picture, well painted and showing the pride ordinary people had in their armed forces.