Original vintage poster
Calling Out of the Whole Army Reserve

Letterpress poster
1939

51 x 48 cm

A Royal call to arms…

‘His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to direct by proclamation that the army reserve and the militia (which includes the supplementary reserve) be called out on permanent service.’

This poster was originally designed in 1921 following the Treaty Talks between Ireland, seeking independence, and the United Kingdom, led by Winston Churchill. Relations at this time were fraught and it is thought that this poster was shown to delegates as part of the pressure exerted on them to accept Britain’s offer of partial independence. Churchill had previously threatened to swamp Ireland with troops and hold a bloody war against the Republicans and this poster was produced to show he was serious. This particular edition was reprinted from the 1921 original in 1939 in preparation for the beginning of the Second World War.