As likely as anything, though there is a plethora of shots of aircraft, tanks, vehicles etc. with unit identifying marks simply scrubbed out on print or negative. They also don't seem to bother much for aircraft serials. I'm still thinking composition or (ineffective) hiding of type. THE POLISH NAVY IN BRITAIN, 1939-1947. © IWM (HU 76134) IWM Non Commercial License
While some of these are the censors pen, or negative scratch outs, the wax pencil scribbles are the news-paper editors cross outs, to focus on the subject before going to print. Having reviewed a good number of newspaper photos from the UK for public consumption, in the newspapers in SA. The Cape Times and Die Berger, the editor crops the photographs, in chinograph pencil to highlight what should be the front page or highlighted print. If you visit a local newspaper (if indeed they still exist) photo data base filing cabinets you will see what I mean.
It wasn't just Allied forces that were subject to censors pencils, as below, note the tape along the bottom. 'Geoffnet' translates as 'open', whilst OKW was 'Oberkommando der Wehrmacht', the German high command. Although it is dated 12 July 1941 this was probably picked up by a member of 76th HAA Regt as Foggia/Cerignola, where there were air bases and railway yards, was overrun by Allies as they moved north in Italy late in '43/early '44.
A well known photo, from a series of similar ones shot on D Day at Bernières-sur-Mer (NAN WHITE Beach). Unfortunately I failed to record the source at the time I downloaded it: and its original, uncensored version (just under the 2MB limit : Source: Fichier:Follow-up waves of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade disembarking with bicycles from landing craft onto 'Nan White' sector of Juno Beach at Bernieres-sur-Mer, 6 June 1944. A23938.jpg — Wikipédia The heavily retouched version has obliterated the SBG assault bridge and made it all but impossible to identify the location. Another exemple of the same SBG bridge being (somewhat unefficiently) erased, this time by scratching the negative, so no uncensored version is available: Source: Library and Archives Canada Negative Number PA-122765 Record - Library and Archives Canada Michel
Général de Gaulle visits France, 14 June 1944: 'ALICE' M5537365 is a Jeep from Tactical Headquarters, 21 Army Group, hence perhaps the censorship on its Arm of Service flash and serial [8d over Black] for HQ 21 A Gp, with a 'T' in the bottom left corner to indicate Tac HQ, although the Formation Sign of HQ 21 Army Group is left untouched... Michel
Witness History - Invention of the ballpoint pen - BBC Sounds In 1938, László Bíró, a Hungarian journalist, invented the ballpoint pen, because he was sick of smudging the ink from his fountain pen. Inspired by the rollers of the printing press at his newspaper, he came up with the idea for a small ball at the end of the pen, which would stop ink from leaking. Thanks to a chance meeting with the Argentine president Agustín Justo, László was invited to Argentina to manufacture his pen. They soon took off and now around 15 million of them are sold every day around the world. Rachel Naylor speaks to László’s daughter, Mariana Bíró.
Quite subtle, really: Brewery identity redacted. The Albion Hotel, Hedon Road, Hull; top photo is one made available after bombing 7-8 May 1941.
Looks more like tipex ;-) THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-1945 | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk) Having a shower bath: Driver Cliffe, Sapper Green and Driver Carr
From file KV/2/2424. This is a 45.2 MB file downloadable free from Kew ( usually £3.50 but Covid allowance still applies ). This illustration (page 43 of the pdf ) from a 1943 booklet on Postal Censorship goes back in time, but still of interest: " 5. Freehand drawings of all kinds. Comment:- These must be examined for the introduction of writing in trees, etc., or morse or other signs in the lines of the drawing. Illustration No.11 shows a fashion plate in which a system of Morse ( not the usual dot and dash ) has been introduced into the embroidery , etc., of the dresses. Message. - ( In figures 1,2 and 3). "Heavy reinforcements for the enemy expected hourly." ( In signature in French shorthand ) - "Before Arras"
Officers were given the job of censoring their men's letters. Lt Bill Beadle at this time GPO C Troop 67th Field Regt. He had an insight as to what could be allowed but even he fell foul of the Censor at times. The date 30th June was written by my father in law from whom I inherited the letters. The originals have been archived for view at Worcester County Archives in the Hive Worcester. In November 1943 "Geof" France MC (he was one of five men named Gerald so they called him Geof) Was photographed "re-enacting the scene" thumbing a lift at Bou Fischa Artillery Camp Tunisia by their Battery Commander Major David Shepherd Photo courtesy the Shepherd family collection.
