'Which? Have you a Reason Or Only an Excuse For Not Enlisting Now!'

Typographical chromolithograph recruiting poster. Printed by The Abbey Press 32 and 34 Great Peter Street, Westminster. Published by The Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, London, poster no. 128, 1915.

For the first year of the war voluntary enlistment into the Army held up well, but by the end of 1915 the number of new recruits was falling. Stories of the horrors soldiers were facing discouraged men from enlisting. Recruiters therefore made a last effort to avoid instituting conscription with posters like this example which is aimed at any wavering volunteers.

The demand was still not met, and the Military Services Act was passed in January 1916 to introduce conscription.