Perchance, Who Knows These Planks of Deal a Grecian Ambuscade Conceal

An Australian Second World War propaganda poster published by Farmers Company Ltd, Sydney. Printed in black and white it features an illustration by Douglas Campbell of soldiers pulling a large wooden horse through the besieged gates of Troy. This black and white drawing is casual and dynamic, using swift and fluid cross-hatching, and circular scribbling to create a portentous atmosphere. The image is illustrating the famous story of the Trojan horse, in which the Greeks are besieging the city of Troy. In order to gain entrance to the city, the Greeks fool the Trojans by giving them the gift of a large wooden horse. Excited, the Trojans pull the horse through the gates. Within the wooden horse are concealed Greek soldiers, and at night they emerge from the horse, and slaughter the inhabitants of Troy. The poster uses this story as an analogy, claiming that a peace treaty with the Germans or Japanese would be used by them as a Trojan horse to sneak past defences and subjugate the allies under an 'inhuman' and totalitarian regime.