Young Men of Britain!! The Germans Said You Were Not in Earnest', 1915 (chromolitho)

'Young Men of Britain!! The Germans Said You Were Not in Earnest', 1915. Chromolithograph recruiting poster by unknown artist, published by the Publicity Department, Central London Recruiting Depot, 1914. A line of British infantrymen fire at the enemy from a trench while an inset vignette illustrates the German view of the British as football players. The poster refers to and quotes The ‘Frankfurter Zeitung’:- 'The young Britons prefer to exercise their long limbs on the football ground rather than to expose them to any sort of risk in the service of their country.' Text transcription: 'YOUNG MEN OF BRITAIN!!/ THE GERMANS SAID YOU WERE NOT IN EARNEST/ We knew you'd come-/ and GIVE THEM THE LIE!/ PLAY the GREATER GAME/ on the FIELD of HONOUR'.