"The life-line is firm thanks to the Merchant Navy" by Charles Wood, 1942

Catalogue ref: INF 3/869

Concept art, which would form the basis posters for the Merchant Navy, and the Merchant Navy Comforts Service. The ultra-realistic image depicts a coxswain at a ship's wheel, and an officer with binoculars. This artwork was refined until it became a poster with the caption ‘The life-line is firm thanks to the Merchant Navy'. INF 13/213 (Piece 52)

One of the posters appeared in Advertiser's Weekly in January 1942, reproduced in a larger size than usual so as not to lose the detail, as many believed that it was the best poster of the war so far. The poster was for a window display, to replace the focus on fuel economy of the previous month.