recently found coloured poster of medals

[Bayley]

I recently found amoung my late grandfather's things, a full coloured poster measuring about 50 cm x 75 cm and entitled "Principal British Badges of Rank, Decorations & Medals". The lower right hand corner bears the following information "G.P.D. 365/18/33" It is in one piece but scarred from the many folding creases.

Would anyone have any information about this poster and the significance of the info in the lower corner??

Thanks.

[Kenny Andrew]

Hi Bayley,

here is the poster in question, it's really just a propaganda poster to raise moral. It's a chart showing badges, decorations and medals for the Royal Navy, the Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, Merchant Navy, and Combined Operations. The right hand side shows medals awarded for bravery and general service medals. The General Production Division G.P.D. was one of the few divisions to remain in place throughout the war,it undertook technical work under Edwin Embleton. The G.P.D. often produced work in as little as a week or a fortnight, when normal commercial practice was three months. Artists were not in a reserved occupation and were liable for call up for military service along with everyone else. Many were recalled from the services to work for the Ministry in 1942, a year in which £4 million was spent on publicity, approximately a third more than in 1941. £120,000 of this was spent on posters, art and exhibitions. Many extra designs were pre-prepared in order to cope with short lead-times and the changing events of war. As far as I know the 365/18/33 is just a reference number. 

[Fritz]

Interesting piece, most certainly  WW2.  Any idea of when this was printed?

[Kenny Andrew]

I think the fact that Combined Operations Command is featured would date it around 1940 the date Combined Operations was formed. The code G.P.D. 365/18/33 would probably also help date it, but so far I have not been able to work out the code.