PAMA Archives collection
World War II posters
PAMA Archives, Melhuish collection
Ivan Melhuish
For medical reasons, local resident Ivan Melhuish was unable to serve with the Canadian Military during World War II. To support the war effort, he became a member of the Brampton Civil Defence Corps and collected almost 300 propaganda, advertising and war effort posters. Mr. Melhuish kindly donated his entire collection to the PAMA Archives.
Regarding Brampton during the war years, Mr. Melhuish recalled:
The whole town was a noise of excitement. Residents were all involved in one way or another with the war effort, through volunteer work with the Red Cross, or at the Maple Leaf Club, in Victory Bond Drives, or by working in essential war industries.
During World War II (1939-1945) the Canadian Government’s Bureau of Public Information encouraged Canadians to support the war effort. They created radio, magazine and newspaper advertisements, as well as posters. These posters were displayed in workplaces, public buildings and throughout the community.