National Service: if you cannot fight for your country, work for it Accession Number: ARTV00775

Description

A British First World War recruitment poster issued by the Department of National Service (NS) . It features the emblem of the NS centre left which includes a full-length depiction of Winged Victory wearing a winged helmet. She holds a shield inscribed 'Victory' in her left hand, and a palm frond in her right. The rest of the poster is text only printed in black, running from top to bottom, set against a bright yellow background and a red border. The poster urges the viewer to help release a man for the front by enrolling for National Service.

A National Service campaign was initiated in 1917 to free up more recruits for the forces by recruiting volunteers from non essential industries and substituting them for fit men of military age employed in vital war work. The aim was to give government a way to control labour resources without resorting to industrial conscription. Without clear direction from the Government the NS floundered. Neville Chamberlain (later Prime Minister) was appointed first Director of National Service but resigned by August 1917 after falling out with Prime Minister Lloyd George.

Details

Accession Number
ARTV00775
Printer
Unknown
Artist
Unknown
Publisher
National Service
Classification
Art
Object Type
Poster
Measurement
Overall: 43 cm x 61 cm
Medium
chromolithograph on paper
Date Made
1917
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

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Last modified: 3 September 2025 - 1.43 am