Losing the Enemy...

[Bend The Light]

In wartime, it was common practise to alter, deface, or even remove direction signs. Local people would know their way around, but the enemy would not.
Here is a collection of removed signs which I thought made a nice picture.

What do you think?


08Dec2013 Losing the Enemy by Bend The Light, on Flickr

 

[sashbar]

I think it is a nice photo even without a story behind it. As for the story my immediate question is: England was not invaded during WW2, so why removing the signs? Is it Malton signs?

 

[Bend The Light]

I think it is a nice photo even without a story behind it. As for the story my immediate question is: England was not invaded during WW2, so why removing the signs? Is it Malton signs?

Having read a little more, I believe this was done in many places in preparation for an invasion...possibly that never happened...but the fact is, finding places in the rural areas of England would be extremely difficult without signs. I also read, however, that the Germans had some very well made maps of areas, and so would probably have not been too hampered by this.

The signs are in the Eden Camp museum in malton, yes.

 

[SLPhotography]

Very very cool photo with some history behind it

 

[tirediron]

Nice capture!

 

[EOV]

It looks like a painting. I like it.

 

[Bend The Light]

Very very cool photo with some history behind it

Nice capture!

It looks like a painting. I like it.

Thank you all.

 

[amolitor]

The British were constantly preparing for invasion during WWII. It was assumed, through much of the war, that invasion was inevitable.

 

[sashbar]

To be honest, one does not need to remove signs in England to get completely lost.

 

[weepete]

sweet, really cool with the story too. Part of it was psycology, keep the local populace busy and they wont be asking too many questions. Also to ese the frustrations of those left at home and not fighting. A lot of victorian railings outside houses were removed and donated for scrap to help the war effort, the idea being they'd be made into planes and such. In reality it didn't help, but it kept those at home busy and feeling like they were helping.

 

[bogeyguy]

In a museum?

 

[Bend The Light]

The British were constantly preparing for invasion during WWII. It was assumed, through much of the war, that invasion was inevitable.

Indeed...

To be honest, one does not need to remove signs in England to get completely lost.

No, that's true. Now we have sat-nav and dumb individuals who can get lost much easier than in war time.

sweet, really cool with the story too. Part of it was psycology, keep the local populace busy and they wont be asking too many questions. Also to ese the frustrations of those left at home and not fighting. A lot of victorian railings outside houses were removed and donated for scrap to help the war effort, the idea being they'd be made into planes and such. In reality it didn't help, but it kept those at home busy and feeling like they were helping.

Indeed - same with the idea of collecting metal, old pots and pans etc, to build spitfires. It was such an insignificant amount, but the morale boost provided by the spitfire(even though it was in fact less successful than the Hurricane) was immense.

In a museum?

Yes:

Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum

 

[jenko]

Interesting shot and piece of history.

 

[Bend The Light]

Interesting shot and piece of history.

Thank you.