Kilroy was a popular graffiti image around WWII. The image is a bald headed man with a large nose peeking over a wall with it's fingers visible, and the phrase: Kilroy Was Here. The image was popular among the military . When the servicemen would storm, encamp, or visit a place in Europe they would leave the Kilroy was here, as a joke.
The phrase and the image had completely different roots. The man portion of the image came from Great Britain, and was originally called Mr. Chad. people would draw him on buildings and walls with the phrase "Wot, no ____?" with whatever was in short supply at the times. The phrase "Wot, no_____?" was in use long before Mr. Chad was created. Mr. Chad was created sometime around 1944. There is still debate as too what created him, but some say his image came from a character from a Popeye cartoon. Some say that he comes from the Greek letter Omega. The phrase Kilroy was here might have come from the phrase "Foo was here" which was popular in Australia around WWI. The Australian Air force used Foo as a name for a "gremlin" and so the phrase was graffiti-ed on many planes that had problems. Another story says that James Kilroy, a ship inspector, would mark the ships that he inspected with the phrase Kilroy was here, and the phrase grew from there.
No one really has any idea where the phrase and image combined but by the time America was invading Europe the phrase was used as sign that the area had a U.S. presence. Hitler was aware of the phrase but thought it had something to do with a spy named Kilroy. Stalin was also aware, because he found the drawing in a VIP bathroom and had to ask his aides who Kilroy was. After the war was over for a short time the phrase "Wot, no Fuhrer?" became popular as a post-war celebration. The doodle is still in use to this day though not as much. It was tied to the Berlin wall for a time in the 80's, and can now be seen a the WWII memorial in D.C.
I think it's interesting to see the genesis of an old meme. I think it's cool that they used it in war to show that the U.S. had been there. I really hadn't given much thought to old memes but it makes sense that memes have always been around. I also find it interesting that the British used "Wot" instead of "What" in their graffiti.
Comments
Excellent job!