Waste the Food and Help the Hun

British Second World War poster depicting a stylised caricature of Hitler, grinning, his arm raised in a salute. The poster was produced by His Majesty's Stationary Office and encouraged food savings and thrift as a way to win the war against the enemy, the Germans. Cyril Kenneth Bird, pen name Fougasse (1887-1965) was a British cartoonist best known for his editorship of 'Punch' magazine and his Second World War propaganda posters. He also designed many posters for the London Underground. He studied at King's College London and while there attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court. He was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War and was invalided out of the British Army (his pen name is based on the fougasse, a type of mine). He first contributed to 'Punch' in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the 'Graphic' and 'Tatler'. During the 1920s and 1930s, his drawings evolved from the traditionally representational to an innovative, spare, style that was both unique and popular, featuring in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorials. During the Second World War he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946.

This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government