Original Item: Only One Available. Britain’s army at the beginning of the First World War was relatively small and professional. There was no conscription of population before 1916, and so recruitment of volunteers in large numbers became a huge challenge.
The Parliamentary Recruitment Committee was set up at the start of the War, and chaired by the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. It used local political party associations to form a network which campaigned through the circulation of leaflets and posters, and organizing rallies and other public events.
This is a lovely British World War I poster which states:
MORE MEN
ARE WANTED FOR
HIS MAJESTY’S ARMY
WHO MAY ENLIST
All men who are 5ft. 3ins. and over, medically fit, and between 19 and 38, and all
old soldiers up to 45.
TERMS OF ENLISTMENT
You may join for the period of War only if you do not want to serve for the
ordinary period of the regular soldier. Then, as soon as the War is over, you will be
able to return to your ordinary employment….
The rest of the poster continues on describing pay, separation allowances, pensions for the disabled, provisions for widows and children, how to enlist and then at the bottom it states:
MEN ARE WANTED – ENLIST NOW.
The poster is in good condition but does show that it was hastily restored. The back of the poster is covered in plastic and the tearing that was present was repaired via tape. All text and colors are still vivid and easily discernible.
Comes more than ready for further research and display.