Recruitment Drive

On the outbreak of World War One (1914-18) in August 1914, the British Army was a small professional force of 270,000, and its soldiers were stationed throughout the British Empire. In contrast, the German Army, based on universal military training, had over one million men.

Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary of State for War on 5 August 1914, and immediately began an enormous recruiting drive. Propaganda posters played a key role in persuading men to sign up as soldiers. Often they showed images of women and children who needed protection.

Others showed examples of alleged German atrocities in France and Belgium, such as this example that features a contemplative British infantryman standing in front of Belgian refugees and a burning village. Posters like this were intended to inspire enlistment through a sense of duty.

Around 30,000 men were enlisting every day by the end of August 1914. Neither the Second World War nor more recent conflicts have generated anything like this degree of enthusiasm. Men enlisted for all manner of reasons, including patriotism, the desire to quit a boring job for an exciting adventure or the chance to see another country.