Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Lumley, Savile (artist)
Johnson, Riddle and Co. Ltd. (printer)
Parliamentary Recruiting Committee (publisher)
- Materials and Techniques:
Colour lithograph on paper
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
Until conscription was introduced in 1916, recruitment posters were an essential element in attracting young men to the armed forces during the 'Great War' of 1914-1918. Savile Lumley's poster has become one of the best known because of its tone of emotional blackmail. The idea was actually that of a printer, Arthur Gunn, who is reported to have imagined himself as the father in question. In fact, after having a sketch of the scene made up by Lumley in 1915, Gunn joined the Westminster Volunteers.
Physical description
'Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?'. Colour lithograph, portrait format, of man seated in armchair with small boy on floor playing with soldiers. On his knee a small girl holding an open book.
Place of Origin
UK (published)
Date
ca.1914-1915 (published)
Artist/maker
Lumley, Savile (artist)
Johnson, Riddle and Co. Ltd. (printer)
Parliamentary Recruiting Committee (publisher)
Materials and Techniques
Colour lithograph on paper
Marks and inscriptions
'Published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Commission, London.- Poster no. 79.'
'Designed & Printed by Johnson, Riddle & Co. Ltd. London S.E.'
Dimensions
Height: 76.3 cm sheet, Width: 51 cm sheet
Descriptive line
'Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?'. Colour lithograph poster designed by Savile Lumley and published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, London, during the First World War, ca.1914-1915.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1
The full text of the entry is as follows:
'LUMLEY, Savile
Daddy, what did You do in the Great War? Poster (No.79) published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, London, during the First World War. c. 1914-1915 CL 76.3 x 51 cm
Circ.466-1969 fiche 25/F5'
Production Note
Attribution note: This poster was issued by the Parlimentary Recruiting Commission in 1915. Conscription only began in 1916.
Reason For Production: Commission
Materials
Paper; Lithographic ink
Techniques
Colour lithography
Subjects depicted
Children; War; Propaganda; Recruitment; Armchair; Toy soldiers
Categories
Prints; Interiors; Propaganda; Posters
Production Type
Mass produced
Collection code
PDP
