The gaze is stern and direct. The finger is pointed directly at the viewer. Any passer-by is unable to escape the attention of the martial and commanding figure of Field Marshal Earl Horatio Herbert Kitchener (1850–1916). This poster still stands out in the history of the First World War as a striking illustration of the nature and power of wartime propaganda. It also reveals details of the mobilisation of British society during the First World War.
As secretary of state for war from 5 August 1914, Kitchener was the chief organiser of the nation in arms. He was a colonial and military hero, and his fame allowed him to command immediate attention. Celebrated for his victories in Sudan, Kitchener had been commanderin-chief during the Boer War and in India.
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