1942 RAF WW2 printed letter on Careless Talk
Sir Charles Portal's warning to his newly commissioned officers...
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This is a high-level security and morale directive issued during the height of the Second World War. It is essentially the official version of the "Careless Talk Costs Lives" campaign, but specifically aimed at the officer class.
It was issued by The Chief of the Air Staff (C.A.S.), Sir Charles Portal after the Battle of Britain, and during the Blitz, when fears of fifth columnists and information leaks were at their peak. The document is surprisingly firm. It doesn't just ask officers to be quiet; it commands them to actively police their peers. It states that if they overhear indiscreet discussion, they must report the names of those participating to the "proper authority." It warns that failing to do so makes the officer "personally responsible" for the loss of lives.
The printer's code at the bottom reads (58482) Wt. 46306/3133 10,000 2/42 Hw. G.371 which shows this specific copy was part of a batch of 10,000 printed in February 1942, even though the text dates to January 1941. These were handed to newly commissioned officers as part of their induction. Portal's signature is printed.
Condition
Good condition, some creasing to the corners and a few pin pricks where it must have been pinned to a board.
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