Reasons to Enlist

World War One, of course, had casualty rates that exceeded those of any past war by a huge factor, so all the countries involved had a constant need for new recruits. To get them, propagandists/poster artists used every tactic possible, no matter how irrelevant or even false. Here are just a few. 

Guilt. Source

Nobility and friendship. Source

It's exciting. Source

You're fighting for liberty (er...yeah...). Source

Veterans would go if they could, so it must be worthwhile. Source

Sexy girls. Source

More sexual innuendo... Source

If you're not with us, you're not one of us. Source

Be a man. Source

Actually bringing up the obscure treaty that started it. Source

Patriotism (even when irrelevant, no one was threatening Scotland). Source

Your sports heroes are doing it. Source

It beats getting killed in an air raid. Source

Patriotism, again, with a twist (Irish independence was a big deal at the time) Source

You'll be happy! [I'm not sure how the originators of this one slept at night, honestly]. Source

Guilt from women. Source

Historical/cultural appeal. Source

It is Serious. Source

Appeal to Empire (also, fans of the Lion King). Source

Selective quoting of national heroes. Source

Sign up to avoid being drafted. Source

You'll like it! (also, why not?). Source

 Source

No wonder everyone ended up so cynical and disillusioned. 

Norway by Photochrom

A photochrom, in brief, is essentially a photographic print crossed with a lithograph-- to hear the full story, the Library of Congress has an excellent explanation. These were mass-produced as prints well before the development of colour photography. Scenic views for tourists were especially popular, and the Library of Congress has thousands, from diverse countries. Many photochrom tours to come--but today, the beauty of Norway, 1890!

From Vikinghaug, Odde, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Stalheim Hotel and Naerodalen, Hardanger Fjord. Source

A wooden stave church in Bergen. Source

Bondhus glacier and lake, Hardanger Fjord, Handanger. Source

Folgefond Glacier, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Fossestuen Hotel, Trondhjem. Source

Eide Skjervefos, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Framnaes Hotel and Opheim Lake, Hardanger Fjord. Source

From St. Hanshaugen, Hammerfest. Source

Vossevangen, Hardanger Fjord. Source

General view towards Merok, Geiranger Fjord. Source

A view of Ålesund. Source

Hornindalsrokken, Geiranger Fjord. Source

Loen, Kjendalskronebrae, Nordfjord. Source

Mundal, Fjaerland, Sognefjord. Source

A girl of Voss, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Norwegian carriage, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Midnight sun in Advent Bay, Spitzbergen. Source

Raftsund, Lofoten, Digermulen. Source

Skjeggedalsfos, I, Odde, Hardanger Fjord. Source

The road from Eide to Voss, Hardanger Fjord. Source

Tinnoset, Telemarken (i.e, Telemark). Source

Troldfjord, Raftsund, Lofoten. Source

Kongen og Dronningen, Bispen. Source

Airshows with London Transport

Today, London Transport suggests we take in an air show! From 1908 through the 20s and 30s Hendon Aerodrome was the place to go, situated a few miles outside London's northwest city limit at the time (the area is well inside London's suburbs now). From World War Two onwards activity at the aerodrome declined and it was closed in 1968; however, the RAF museum still lives there, if these posters inspire a visit. Art Deco biplanes certainly tempt me...

Poster by Charles E. Turner, 1924. Source

Very early flying planes at Hendon--1913! Poster by Tony Sarg. Source

Another early advertisement for the fun of aeroplanes, 1914. Also by Tony Sarg. Source

Poster by Henry Perry, 1931. Source

Poster by Charles Burton, 1930. Source

Poster by Charles E. Turner, 1925. Source

Poster by Charles E. Turner, 1928. Source

All right, this one is slightly frightening, especially in light of later events in London... Poster by Andre Eduoard Marty, 1933. Source

Poster by Zero, 1935. Source

Poster by Edward Albert Halliwell, 1929. Source

Poster by Dora M. Batty, 1932. Source

American Soldier Meets British Girl

A striking example of staged wartime propaganda, allegedly portraying a romance between a young British woman and American soldier stationed in the UK. The pair were not in fact romantically entwined; in fact, the woman could not stand the man, and they never saw each other after the shoot. Unfortunately, the experience only worsened for her--she actually received hate mail from British soldiers, accusing her of being a traitor for her "interest" in an American. None of this was made public, of course, nor is it associated with the images by the Imperial War Museum, who holds them; this context was provided by the woman's daughter in a comment (below). I confess this blog originally presented these photographs as cute and romantic despite the staging; of course I now regret this naive approach. 

© IWM (D 4758)

Original caption: "Robert 'Bob' Ames writes a cable home to family in the United States of America at the Post Office in Bournemouth, as Norah 'Mickey' McMullen looks on from behind the grille." Source

© IWM (D 4761)

Original caption: After dealing with his cable to the United States, Robert 'Bob' Ames and Norah 'Mickey' McMullen chat and get to know each other in the Post Office where Norah works, Bournemouth, 1941." Source

© IWM (D 4762)

Original caption: "After meeting in the Post Office where Norah 'Mickey' McMullen works, Robert 'Bob' Ames arranges to meet her for a date, later that day. Here we see Norah arriving to meet Bob on the promenade, where he is waiting for her. Behind them, other people enjoy the view or read the newspaper under a shelter." Source

© IWM (D 4767)

Original caption: "After a walk, Robert 'Bob' Ames and Norah 'Mickey' McMullen stop for a rest against a tree, Bournemouth, 1941."  Source

© IWM (D 4769)

Original caption: "As they sit under a tree after a walk, Norah 'Mickey' McMullen writes her name on the gas mask case of her new boyfriend Robert 'Bob' Ames, Bournemouth, 1941." Source

© IWM (D 4757)

Original caption: "A head and shoulders portrait of the smiling happy couple. Robert Ames and Norah McMullen have just met and are clearly very happy together."  Source