Who was "Foo"? 

In WW1 Foo was a mythical and mysterious little "man" who turned up nearly everywhere (especially where there was a bit of nonsense going on). 
He was shown (usually) as a little bald headed man peering over a stone wall, with the simple inscription "Foo was here".
He was chalked on the side of railway carriages, appeared in probably every camp that the 1st AIF served in and generally made his presence felt.
 He reappeared in WW2. Later in WW2 (particularly with RAAF) he took on a more devilish appearance.

Of course we're sure that you once knew 
A bit of a lad by the name of "Foo". 
He's the joker who's been on the ramp, 
And written his name in every camp.

 

But now his scheming's all come to naught, 
For as you see Foo has been caught. 
How he was caught is not quite clear, 
But it was in a "Waaafery", 
or there quite near. 
Ah ! But this is no time to sing and shout 
For Foo has just this minute got out, 
And just as one would expect to find, 
Foo has gone and left his card behind!



 
In WW2 the Yanks "pinched" the basic idea of Foo, renamed him "Kilroy" and helped spread him around the world.
Foo was not worried, he took it in good spirit and in the best traditions of good Allies working together.
Unlike Foo who specialised in appearing on buildings, railway carriages & such-like, Kilroy "peeks out of pockets and necklines, from behind lapels and neckties, over lampshades, picture frames, etc." 
The picture (left) shows Kilroy in a man's pocket, over his lapel and behind a tie. He is also peeking over the neckline of a woman's dress. Below is his more normal image as chalked by the GIs.

There was one person who led or participated in every combat, training or occupation operation during WW II and the Korean War. This person could always be depended on. GI's began to consider him the "super GI." He was one who always got there first or who was always there when they left. I am, of course, referring to "Kilroy". Somehow, this simple graffiti "Kilroy Was Here" captured the imagination of GI's everywhere they went. The scribbled cartoon face and words showed up everywhere - worldwide.

It is reported at Kilroy has gone to the moon. Apparently he must have snuck onto a moon-lander because "Kilroy Was Here" is recorded in the dust of the moon.




Now after all that you can blame my brother RON for all of this he got a belting for painting FOO on the side of our house.
--------------------MEMORIES