Page 37 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

World War One Posters

Long before WWI, posters had been a means of informing the public and,

despite the growing influence of newspapers and the inventions of radio and

telephone, the poster still remained the major medium for mass

communication of news, or regulations, to the population.

WWI was considered the first mass propaganda war with posters being used

to inspire, inform and persuade. Posters were used to encourage recruitment,

raise money and to convey a variety of Home Front issues.

Wording, illustration and colour were employed to generate emotional impact,

stirring feelings of patriotism, heroism, sacrifice and fear and hatred of the

enemy.

During the course of the war, fifty-four million posters were issued

countrywide. Langham residents would have seen them displayed in several

places around the village and in prominent places such as the Institute

(Village Hall) and the Post Office in the Square; the name of the

sub post-master, Robert G Isaac, is often seen as a witness on the attestation

forms of local men recruited at Oakham.

The war soon proved to

be more costly than the

government could have

imagined and additional

methods of funding were

quickly needed. War

Bonds helped to generate

huge sums of money to

finance military operations

and associated expenses.

This poster shows an

explosive link between

buying War Bonds and

helping with fighting at

the front. In the public’s

mind, buying bonds

equated to the

manufacture of

armaments. This image

has a very direct appeal

without the need of a

textual explanation.