麻豆社

The cartoonist Alfred Leete isn鈥檛 a well known name. However, the Westonian who is buried in Milton Road cemetery is responsible for one of the most famous and imitated posters of all time.

Leete's most famous drawing, with Lord Kitchener and the words 鈥淵our country needs YOU鈥� first appeared on the front cover of London Opinion in September 1914. It is thought that this poster spurred men on to join up voluntarily in the early months of World War One.

The poster has been copied many times since - in 1917, the USA used the same slogan but replaced Kitchener with Uncle Sam. Away from war the image has been taken on by the media to hype up patriotic enthusiasm ahead of national events such as World Cups and even the Eurovision Song Contest 鈥� probably not quite what Leete had in mind one hundred years ago.

Location: Milston Street Cemetry, Milston Street, Weston-super-Mare BS22 8AG
Image: Leete鈥檚 iconic recruitment poster featuring Lord Kitchener, courtesy of IWM