The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
An Australian First World War recruitment poster by Harry J Weston designed to target the Australian love of sport and recruit men for a unit manned entirely by sportsmen. A soldier in full uniform set against a dramatic red background points a finger straight at the viewer, attracting our attention and thus demanding a response. As the First World War dragged on and conscription was rejected at the referendum in 1916, a concerted propaganda campaign was needed to help fill the ranks. The poster became one of the principal forms of propaganda as it was cheap, easy to mass produce, and highly visible. The States' recruiting committees selected artists with well recognised skills and previous commercial experience to design the posters. Australia relied solely on voluntary recruits to serve in the AIF. Compulsory military service, or conscription, for eligible men was in force in Australia from 1911 but these forces were for home defence and could not be used to serve in a war overseas. Harry J Weston (1874-1938) was a cartoonist, painter, commercial artist and architect. Weston was a member of many clubs and societies, and associated with many of Australia's now famous cartoonists and illustrators. He is known for drawing the cover of 'the first publication issued under the auspices of the Society of Australian Black and White Artists'.
Australian First World War recruitment poster advertising a 'Sportsman's Recruiting Day' Friday 27 July 1917. It features an image of a man donning his soldier's uniform on the left side of the poster
Depicts a seaman dressed in uniform, at home engaged with cleaning the kitchen dishes. His wife stands aggressively in the doorway, like a ship's captain, pointing to shoes on the floor lined up as if
First World War recruiting poster depicting a 'Cornstalk' or typical farmer in the foreground, calmly walking away from a scene in which men are desperately attempting to try and extinguish a grass fi
First World War poster by acclaimed British silhouette artist, Harry Oakley. At the right of the poster, a man in silhouette is carrying his rifle and bayonet at the ready. Behind him, depicted in g
Australian A.I.F. First World War recruitment poster. The poster appeals to the viewer's sense of filial duty as an encouragement to join up. In the top left corner, set against a yellow background, i
Harry J Weston was an Australian architect, watercolourist and commercial artist, and was also known for his poster designs and illustrations during the First World War.