Recruitment poster, August 1914

In August 1914, on the eve of the First World War, the British Army didn't have enough men to fight the upcoming war. They set out to recruit men aged between 18 and 38 to fill the ranks. In a time before radio and television, they relied on recruitment posters to persuade people to sign up.

The city of Wakefield produced this poster, printed by a local company. It encouraged men to report to the recruiting office on Bank Street to enlist. It is a typical Victorian style poster. It uses patriotic language in the title and gives practical information. It asks men to sign up ‘without delay,’ suggesting urgency and importance.

Later posters were often more colourful and featured bold illustrations. The designs were simpler with strong slogans and less information. They used themes such as patriotism, camaraderie, bravery and masculinity to encourage enlistment.

In 1916 the army introduced conscription instead of relying on people volunteering.