'Boys Come over here you're wanted', 1915

Colour lithograph published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, Poster No 82, printed by David Allen and Sons Ltd, Harrow, Middlesex.

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.

Despite their best endeavours, the demand was still not met, and the Military Services Act was passed in January 1916 to introduce conscription.