Lord Kitchener Wants You
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A 1914 recruitment poster depicting Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener above the words "WANTS YOU" was the most famous image used in the British Army recruitment campaign of World War I. The poster was designed by Alfred Leete. A similar poster used the words "YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU" [1]
On the outbreak of the First World War, the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, appointed Kitchener as Secretary of War. Kitchener was the first member of the military to hold the post, was given the task of recruiting a large army to fight Germany. With the help of a war poster that featured his mustachioed face, pointing finger, and the words: 'Join Your Country's Army', over 3,000,000 men volunteered in the first two years of the war. Kitchener told Asquith that he expected the war to last at least three years with millions of casualties. He argued that the British Army must concentrate its efforts on the Western Front. However, after coming under considerable pressure from Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, he did agree to support the Gallipoli campaign in February 1915. By the time Kitchener withdrew the troops from the area in January 1916, Allied casualties totalled over 250,000 men.
[edit] Imitations
The device of a hand pointing directly at the viewer and apparently following as the viewer moves round has inspired several imitations, including:
 United States, 1917. J. M. Flagg's Uncle Sam recruited soldiers for World War I and World War II |
 United States, World War I. Daughter of Zion: Your Old New Land must have you! Join the Jewish regiment. |
 Russian White Army recruitment poster, 1919. "Why aren't you in the army?" |
 Soviet Union poster. "You, if you are not yet a member of the cooperative – sign up immediately!" |
 United States 1985 Smokey Bear poster. The "Only You" refers to his famous quotation, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" |
 Brazilian Integralism poster, 1937. "Brazil needs you! Without Integralism there is no Nationalism" |
 Paulista Constitutionalist propaganda poster, 1932. "You have a duty to follow. Check your conscience." |
 Waffen-SS propaganda poster, 1944. "You Too! Your comrades await in the French Division of the Waffen-SS" |
