General
kilroy was here
What does kilroy was here mean?
The cartoon doodle itself — the peeping bald man — independent of the words.
"He drew a quick Kilroy in the corner of the chalkboard."
Origin
An American WWII phenomenon of the 1940s, the tag and its peeping doodle were spread worldwide by U.S. servicemen. Its exact origin is debated, often tied to a shipyard inspector named James Kilroy who chalked the phrase on inspected work.
Frequently asked questions
Where did 'Kilroy was here' come from?
It spread through U.S. soldiers in the 1940s; one popular origin story credits a shipyard inspector named James Kilroy who chalked it on completed work.
What does the Kilroy doodle look like?
A bald figure with a long nose peering over a wall or line, with fingers gripping the edge.
Why did soldiers write it?
It was a morale gag and a way to claim that GIs had already reached even the most far-flung spots.
Is it the same as the British 'Mr. Chad'?
The British and Australian troops had a near-identical peeping figure called Mr. Chad; the two traditions merged during the war.
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