The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Australian First World War recruitment poster. This poster was part of the First World War Australian Government Recruiting Kit. Depicts a group of armed German soldiers threatening a young man pinned against a corrugated iron water tank. The other victims in this scene include an elderly man in the foreground, who has been shot, an elderly woman on her knees pleading with their captors, and a young woman in a state of half-undress who is being restrained by two German soldiers in the background. Recruitment posters were prolific in Australia throughout the First World War. 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, however, these forces were for home defence and could not be used to serve in a war overseas.
Norman Lindsay (1879-1969) was a painter, draughtsman, illustrator, cartoonist, printmaker, writer and sculptor. He joined the Sydney 'Bulletin' magazine as a staff artist, 1901-09, 1910-23 and 1932-58. During the First World War he produced jingoistic cartoons and pro-conscription posters. The fourth of the series of six posters by Lindsay constituting the last nation-wide Australian recruiting campaign. This poster in particular illustrates how desperate the recruiting authorities were - the suggestion that Australia herself was threatened by an invading German army was ludicrous.
Australian First World War recruitment poster. Depicts a group of armed German soldiers threatening a young man pinned against a corrugated iron water tank. The other victims in this scene include an
Australian First World War recruitment poster. Depicts a group of armed German soldiers threatening a young man pinned against a corrugated iron water tank. The other victims in this scene include an
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 First World War recruitment poster. Depicts soldiers lined up with a space reserved for "a fit man". It plays on the viewer's patriotic sense of duty. Recruitment posters were prevalent in
An Australian First World War recruitment poster, depicting two Australian soldiers, hard pressed by a larger German force, one on the ground appealing for help. This poster was part of the First Worl
South Australian recruiting poster, based upon a British recruitment poster. It depicts a young boy scout in silhouette, confronting an adult who is scratching his head. It is possible that this work
South Australian recruiting poster based upon a British recruitment poster. It depicts a young boy scout in silhouette, confronting an adult who is scratching his head. It is possible that this work