Typhoid Tim - Are You a Food Handler?

Accession Number AWM2018.254.21
Collection type Art
Measurement Sheet - irregular: 61.8 x 61 cm
Object type Poster
Physical description lithograph printed in colour
Maker Marcuse, Ernest Henry
Place made Australia
Date made c.1942
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

Cautionary hygiene poster designed by E H Marcuse for the Australian Army warning of the risk of disease if food is not handled with clean hands. It depicts the actions of a chef called "Typhoid Tim" to deliver the message and includes five images as a flow chart, warning against the risks of poor hygiene. In the top left corner a cook is depicted stirring a large pot filled with soup; the next depicts the cook on the toilet, wiping himself; the next depicts the cook handling the food; the next depicts a man in a hospital bed with the cook standing beside him; the final centre image depicts a new, open grave with a coffin inside of it.

Ernest Marcuse (1900 – 1985) was a German born Jewish artist. Marcuse (V377746) served in the Australian Army, 4th Employment Company in the Second World War. During his service he was transferred to Army Officer Training School as an Army Staff Artist. He served various units including: 13th Field Hygiene Company, Officer Cadet Training Unit and Land Headquarters, Directorate of Military Training. At this time he created visual training aids and illustrations for publications. Throughout the war Marcuse was located variously at Bonegilla in 1942, followed by Woodside (SA) in 1943, Mangalore and Melbourne.