Australian Great War Poster series 2020 – War on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Posted by Military Shop on 2nd Apr 2020
When Britain declared war against Germany in August 1914 Australia, as a dominion of the British Empire, was thrust into the war. Thousands of volunteers took up the cause and joined the Australian Imperial Force.
Australia’s force was completely voluntary, but the numbers of volunteers waned after the tragedy of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and the government twice tried to introduce conscription through referenda in 1916 and 1917. Both failed. So the challenge was left to the creative minds of the time to inspire (or shame) men of fighting-age to answer the call. Propaganda posters popped up across the country.
This recruitment material varied in theme but often took on a social-shaming tone in attempts to pull people from their lives and get them to join their brethren on the warfront.
Propaganda posters back in their day were like our social media mass calls to action—the wartime equivalent of an “ice bucket” challenge. As such, here at the Military Shop, we have resurrected some of the more recognisable Great War propaganda posters in an attempt to draw attention the voluntary nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic. While the government is doing what it can to regulate the crisis, the only way to truly overcome the pandemic is through voluntary action. Please protect yourself and others by isolating and share this poster to keep spirits up. Social isolation and extreme hygiene are the necessary steps to win the war. Heed the call. Stand together by standing apart!.
ORIGINAL IMAGE
Title - Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?
Author / Creator - Savile Lumley ca.1910 - ca.1950 artist.
ORIGINAL IMAGE
Title - Come and do your bit. Join now
Author / Creator - David Allen & Sons, printers. - 1915.
Australia’s force was completely voluntary, but the numbers of volunteers waned after the tragedy of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and the government twice tried to introduce conscription through referenda in 1916 and 1917. Both failed. So the challenge was left to the creative minds of the time to inspire (or shame) men of fighting-age to answer the call. Propaganda posters popped up across the country.
This recruitment material varied in theme but often took on a social-shaming tone in attempts to pull people from their lives and get them to join their brethren on the warfront.
Propaganda posters back in their day were like our social media mass calls to action—the wartime equivalent of an “ice bucket” challenge. As such, here at the Military Shop, we have resurrected some of the more recognisable Great War propaganda posters in an attempt to draw attention the voluntary nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic. While the government is doing what it can to regulate the crisis, the only way to truly overcome the pandemic is through voluntary action. Please protect yourself and others by isolating and share this poster to keep spirits up. Social isolation and extreme hygiene are the necessary steps to win the war. Heed the call. Stand together by standing apart!.
ORIGINAL IMAGE
Title - Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?
Author / Creator - Savile Lumley ca.1910 - ca.1950 artist.
ORIGINAL IMAGE
Title - Come and do your bit. Join now
Author / Creator - David Allen & Sons, printers. - 1915.