MLU FORUM - Sign writing

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Posted by Steve Guthrie:

Quote:

In terms of unit sign painters, the SLI had one. I wonder if he held a similar position in civilian life and this was one of those rare military 'round peg/round hole' situations. Both Canadian Army photos

Attachment 127203 Attachment 127204

It pays to keep in mind that sign painting was a skill taught to many painters until at least the 1950s/60s or so, since pretty much every sign on a shop, including on the windows, would have been hand-painted. It would not have been especially rare to find a trained sign painter in any given military unit in the Second World War, I would think, and I would bet that anyone with that skill would be quickly given the job of applying markings to vehicles.

This one clearly had a good sense of humour as well.

David

Gotta love his supply cabinet....a very 'artistic' use of a vehicle on its side.

In the British sitcom "Last of the Summer Wine", the character Foggy Dewhurst was a corporal sign writer in Normandy..

Painters and Decorators

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakko Westerbeke (Post 284824)

According to the 2005 book "Skill at Arms" by Thomas Bennett ISBN 1-894255-52-6 there were both Painter and Decorator trades which were categorized as Group B Trades. These were merged in 1943 into one trade spaced over the Group B and C Trades. Both were skilled at lettering and sign painting. Painters and Decorators could be found in several Corps during the war so I would not be surprised if there was not at least one assigned to an Infantry Battalion.