1941 Fraser Map of the World Marking British and British Commonwealth Naval Bases

This is a 1941 Eric Fraser pictorial persuasive map of the world highlighting British naval bases during World War II (1939 - 1945). The map was published and released in multiple languages to stress the power and security provided by the British Royal Navy against the looming aggression of the Axis powers.

A Closer Look

The White Ensign, the official flag of the Royal Navy, marks bases from British Columbia to New Zealand, most of which were operated by Commonwealth nations, including the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Royal Indian Navy, and the South African Navy. A beautifully stylized compass rose superimposed over illustrations of an old ship-of-the-line and a new, modern warship occupies the upper right.

The British Navy During World War II

The British Empire played a critical role in Britain's war effort, with some fifteen million Commonwealth, Colonial, and Imperial Indian citizens fought Axis forces under the British flag. The pervasive of British Naval forces influenced the Allied dominance of the seas throughout the war, protecting trade and supply networks globally. British Navy and Commonwealth ships fought in every major naval theater - at a heavy price. In 1941, when this map was issued, Britain commanded the world's most powerful navy By 1945, this position had been overtaken by the United States.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Eric Fraser and published in 1941. Editions of this map were published in English, French (as here), Spanish, and Arabic. It is unclear who published this piece or any of the editions. We note examples of the French edition in the David Rumsey Map Collection and in the Princeton University Poster Collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.