Kilroy Was Here

RadishRose

RadishRose

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Location
Connecticut, USA
In another thread AB made mention of "Kilroy was here".

My goodness, Kilroy! I had seen this as a child in old comics, and until just now, I never knew what it meant! This site had everything you ever anted to know about Kilroy was here!

http://www.kilroywashere.org/001-Pag...oyLegends.html

Am I alone in this? Did you all know how Kilroy was here got started?

12-7CM-8-9CM-Kilroy-Was-Here-WWII-Icon-Military-Marines-Army-America-Vinyl-Sticker-Car.jpg
 

One theory of many is this one RR...

The “Kilroy was here” story began at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts where Kilroy worked. During World War II the shipyard staff needed to increase production to turn out as many ships as possible for the war effort.
Kilroy’s job was as an inspector; one of the aspects of the process he checked were all the rivets that were involved in holding the ship together. They had to be put in properly and fastened solidly. As Kilroy made his inspections—often going into tight spaces and down into tanks—he counted the blocks of rivets as he went. He then used a waxy chalk to leave a checkmark as to the area that he had approved.
Riveters were paid on a piecework basis, with their pay calculated by the rivet. After Kilroy left for the day, the workers sometimes erased the mark so that the inspector on the next shift would come through and count their work for a second time. This would increase their pay.

Read the rest here...

https://americacomesalive.com/2014/11/10/kilroy-story-world-war-ii/
 
Ive heard it many times but never knew how it got started or what it really meant...still don’t because I haven’t read the link yet.

Will shortly. :)
 

Yep HD, that story is in several of the legends cited my my link- or similar. There is one that claims Kilroy was an ancient Irishman, leaving is mark along his travels.

Now Chad is a new one on me! I'll have to look around for more on him!
 
from Wiki

"Kilroy" was the American equivalent of the Australian Foo was here which originated during World War I. "Mr Chad" or just "Chad" was the version that became popular in the United Kingdom.

The character of Chad may have been derived from a British cartoonist in 1938, possibly pre-dating "Kilroy was here". According to Dave Wilton, "Some time during the war, Chad and Kilroy met, and in the spirit of Allied unity merged, with the British drawing appearing over the American phrase."[SUP][1][/SUP]

Other names for the character include Smoe, Clem, Flywheel, Private Snoops, Overby, The Jeep, and Sapo.

The Australian "Foo was here" predates the American version of World War II, "Kilroy was here", by about 25 years.
 
When I was in the RAF, Kilroy had been everywhere, on
every base.

Mike.
 

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