“It is useless in warfare to be merely brave, if bravery means presenting oneself as a useless target to the enemy. It is far better to employ intelligence and concealment, so as to induce him to present a target. A man who is well concealed can bide his time, watch for the enemy to expose himself and hold his fire until his target is sufficiently close to make sure of it. . . . Camouflage is no mystery and no joke. It is a matter of life and death-of victory or defeat.”

This is a facsimile of the practical manual of camouflage intended to train Home Guardsman in the art of camouflage and concealment. Written by the surrealist Roland Penrose and originally published in 1941, it first deals with nature as a guide to camouflage, and then with the application of lessons learned from nature, including the importance of background, texture, color, shadows, and more. Illustrated with line drawings, diagrams, and photographs, Penrose gives valuable instruction on sitting and camouflage discipline, dummies and decoys, fixed positions, materials and equipment, and individual camouflage.