‘Saving for their future’
In 1916, the government began to issue war bonds as a way of raising money. Since the First World War, National Savings campaigns have invited the public to invest in war bonds and related products. The result has been a range of attractive posters, often by the best commercial artists.
Various themes included appeals to patriotism, how money was being used in the war effort and visions of a better world once victory had been achieved.
The artist Albert Thomas drew a number of war savings posters in both world wars. One of his posters below is a colourful view of a vessel under construction in a busy shipyard.
Savings campaigns were launched within weeks of the declaration of war in 1939. Early posters often featured children, such as this boy in the poster below, playing with his toy crane drawn by Tom Purvis in 1940.
War savings posters appeared everywhere, from factory canteens to air raid shelters. They were also designed for particular groups, such as women war workers, who were encouraged to save for an idyllic post-war future with their husbands and children.
Over time, National Savings became a mass movement with thousands of groups in schools and workplaces where small amounts could be deposited. Among our images is a set of posters depicting the ‘Bob in the pound’ campaign.
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Fight with National War Bonds, c1918
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-11-fight-with-national-war-bonds-woman-with-flag-c1918.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/11
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More ships more food, artist Albert Thomas, 1918
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-7-more-ships-more-food-1918-artist-albert-thomas.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/7
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Lend to defend his right to be free, artist Tom Purvis, 1940
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-34-lend-to-defend-his-right-to-be-free-1940-artist-tom-purvis.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/34
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Wings for victory - the sky's the limit, 1943
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-96-wings-for-victory-the-skys-the-limit-1943.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/96
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Dreams - War savings will bring them to life, artist Lowen, 1943
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-100-dreams-war-savings-will-bring-them-to-life-1943-artist-lowen.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/100
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War savings will make your dreams come true, 1943
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-110-war-savings-will-make-your-dreams-come-true-1943.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/110
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Tell them to make it a war savings Christmas, 1943
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-114-tell-them-to-make-it-a-war-savings-christmas-1943.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/114
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Save at least a bob in the pound for final victory, 1945
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-150-save-at-least-a-bob-in-the-pound-for-final-victory-1945.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/150
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Worth saving for their future, 1945
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-159-worth-saving-for-their-future-keep-on-saving-1945.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/159
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Thanksgiving - our mightiest effort yet, 1945
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc5-175-thanksgiving-our-mightiest-effort-yet-1945.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 5/175
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Save for blue skies ahead, artist Le Bon
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc61-11-save-for-blue-skies-ahead-artist-le-bon.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 61/11
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Keep your balance in the Post Office savings bank, artist Huveneers
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc61-26-keep-your-balance-in-the-post-office-savings-bank-artist-huveneers.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 61/26
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For an occasion such as this... Savings Bank
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/war-and-national-savings/nsc61-10-for-an-occasion-such-as-this-savings-bank.jpgCatalogue reference: NSC 61/10
This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.
