"Gas is petrol - if there is any"
A manual from 1942 to understand Britain and its people
When US soldiers set foot in Britain in early 1942, a vast majority of them had little knowledge about the country and its people. Few had visited the country as civilians before, and there were few sources that would give people a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people a continent away. A little manual issued to US soldiers, titled Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, was designed to fill this informational void.
In my view, the manual aims to accomplish two goals. The first goal is tactical. The manual covers practical aspects of living in Britain, including the dollar–pound exchange rate ($4 = £1); the prices of important commodities like whiskey ($4.5 – the equivalent of what a soldier made for a couple of days of work); and what to do when you are in a hurry and the British national anthem is about to play (leave before it starts). The second goal of the manual is strategic: ensuring that US soldiers have a positive image of Britain and its people. It’s easier to fight alongside the British Tommy if he is seen as a likable and capable ally.
If the manual writers’ goal was to build a positive image of Britain, they could have painted an overly rosy or outright false picture of the country. This approach, however, would have been shortsighted and likely have even backfired. US soldiers would have seen through the lies and exaggerations as they interacted with locals. Misled by the manual, they would have discarded its entire message—not just the false or exaggerated parts. It was in the manual writers’ interest, therefore, to stay clear of obvious falsehoods and blatant exaggeration. This way, the central message—Britain is our ally—could be conveyed.
The path to a harmonious relationship between allies is dangerously narrow and fraught with obstacles. The manual helps US soldiers navigate this path. I categorized these efforts into three domains: 1) creating a positive image of Britain; 2) drawing attention to cultural differences that could lead to misunderstandings and erroneous inferences; and 3) suggesting restraint from criticizing the British.
Stay calm and appreciate the British
A visitor to a country is likely to notice the people, the culture, and the physical environment.
British people
We learn from the manual that British people are tough (“The English language didn’t spread across the oceans … because these people were panty-waists.”). This characterization does not only apply to the country’s fighting men. The manual dedicates an entire section to praising British women as fine soldiers and leaders. (“When you see a girl in khaki … - remember she didn’t get it for knitting more socks than anyone else in Ipswich.”). And let’s not forget about the forerunners to ChatGPT either: the British police, who “are proud of being able to answer almost any question under the sun”.
British culture
The British have London. We are told that roughly 12 million people live in the Greater London area, which is roughly the population of Greater New York City plus a bunch of suburbs and New Jersey cities. At the time the manual was written, London housed around 8 million people, compared to New York’s population of around 7.5 million. If we add the metropolitan areas and define them sufficiently widely, the 12-million number seems reasonable.
One statistic that is not comparable between the US and Britain is the murder rate. The manual claims that the number of murders in Britain, which had a population of around 47-48 million at the time, was comparable to the number in large US cities. According to official UK statistics, the murder rate fluctuated in the 300-400 range in the years around 1942. In 1939, murder rates for the three largest US cities—New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia—were 291, 239, and 129, respectively. Given year-on-year fluctuations and other potential methodological differences, the manual’s murder-related claim seems to be in the right ballpark.
It’s not only the advanced urban life and low crime that speak to British greatness. We learn that Britain is the “cradle of democracy” and is “in some ways even more flexible and sensitive to the will of the people than our own [the US]”. It also has a tradition in sports, with things like cricket (“you have to know the finer points of the game to understand what is going on” and rugby (also called “rugger” at the time).
One thing typically praised in every country is the local food. Now, that’s something absent from this manual. Let’s attribute this omission to an unfortunate oversight; or rather, to the manual’s desire to remain truthful.
British landscape
We learn that “no area of the same size in the United States has such a variety of scenery” as Britain. This might be news to Northern Californians and other Americans. Less surprising perhaps is the fact that the weather tends to be bad in Britain. No need to despair: “most people get used to the English climate eventually”. People are adaptable creatures indeed.
Avoid false inferences and misunderstandings
Beyond highlighting positive things about the country, the manual also mentions some things that are not better or worse in Britain than elsewhere; they are just different. Take driving as an example. At the time (just like today), the British drove on the left, while the Americans drove on the right. Both worked just fine.
In some cases, it’s unclear whether the status quo (like left-side driving) reflects a local preference or if there is indeed a good reason to do something a certain way. This is what the idea of Chesterton’s fence captures: you shouldn’t reform something until you understand why the current system works the way it does. Maybe the current rule is arbitrary. But maybe there is a good reason behind it. For instance, we learn that British taxis have “comic-looking front wheel structures”. I’m not sure what comic-looking means in the context of front wheel structures, but this is not yet another manifestation of British eccentricity. Instead, the front wheel structures are a practical invention tailored to local circumstances: “Watch them [the taxis] turn around in a 12-foot street and you’ll understand why.”
A surefire way to generate conflict is by misunderstanding someone. Most of us are quick to infer someone’s character or preferences based on a few observations. Unfortunately, this inference is frequently mistaken, especially when the target person comes from a different cultural context. Consider something as simple as an unpainted house. Depending on the context, it can mean a careless owner or, in the case of Britain in 1942, a country at war that prioritizes war production over building aesthetics.
Avoid criticism
The manual urges US soldiers to avoid upsetting British soldiers. Some of the don’ts are human universals: “swiping his girl, and not appreciating what his army has been up against”. Some are context-specific, like mentioning that the British Tommy is underpaid relative to his US counterpart.
In 1942, the lowest-paid British enlisted men earned around 2s (shillings) 6d (pence) a day. US enlisted men earned around 5s—or twice as much. Pay differentials were as contentious back then as they are now.
As a side note, if you are confused by the notation and the math, the British monetary system of 1942 is “easier than you think. A little study beforehand on shipboard will make it still easier.” Fortunately, non-British mortals need not deal with this monetary system anymore, as the country adopted the decimal system in 1971.
Discussing pay differentials was not the only discussion topic to avoid. US soldiers were also advised to stay clear of criticizing the food, local politics, and the King. Being mindful in other ways was encouraged too: when invited, don’t “eat up their [the family’s] weekly rations”. The slogan-like ending of the manual summarizes the best approach to maintaining a cordial relationship with the British ally:
It is always impolite to criticize your hosts. It is militarily stupid to insult your allies.
Conclusion
This manual gives us a rare glimpse into how the British people and their country were perceived during World War II. It emphasizes the strategic importance of maintaining a great working relationship with the British while giving useful tips on how US soldiers should conduct themselves. Importantly, it does so in a direct, light-hearted, and largely accurate way, free of unnecessary moralizing and lecturing.