Postcard to Boog Watson dated 20 December 1939

Category

Library Item

Item no

21000

Title

Postcard to Boog Watson dated 20 December 1939, picture side

Description

The postcard illustrates the Second World War blackout in a humorous way. It depicts a fantasy scene with toadstool houses inhabited by pixies in silhouette. A mouse points at an open window of one of the toadstool houses that is letting out light. The caption at the bottom of the postcard says 'Black-out that light please'.

Artist / maker

Brett, Molly

Date

1939

Size

9.2 x 12.7 cm

Type

Postcard

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Reproduced by kind permission of The Medici Society Ltd.

This item was digitised as part of the Whose Town? project, an educational resource for schools. Unique archival material was gathered together to create a snapshot of a person's life at a particular point in Edinburgh's history.

Air Raid Warden, Charles Boog Watson donated his detailed log books and correspondence to Edinburgh City Libraries giving us a unique snapshot of ARP duties and an insight into Edinburgh at war.

During the Second World War the British government ordered a complete blackout. People had to ensure that no light was visible at night in order not to provide clues to bombers.

This postcard is illustrated by Molly Brett, a well known children's illustrator born in 1902.

The postcard was sent to Charles Boog Watson, an air warden in December 1939 by two of his colleagues.

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Events > Disturbances > Conflicts