A British Army First World War propaganda/recruitment poster for the 'Football Battalion' [17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment], the post

A British Army First World War propaganda/recruitment poster for the 'Football Battalion' [17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment], the poster reading YOUNG MEN OF BRITAIN !! GERMANS SAID YOU WERE NOT IN EARNEST, then a quotation from 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, the poster narrative responds WE KNEW YOU'D COME AND GIVE THEM THE LIE, PLAY THE GREATEST GAME, JOIN THE FOOTBALL BATTALION, the main image of infantrymen firing rifles from their trench, with a vignette of footballers joining civilians and marching off to war, printed by John Riddle & Co. Ltd., London, 102 by 76cm., 40 by 30in., various paper tears with two that extend onto the main image, otherwise only affecting marginal areas The core of the 17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was a group of professional footballers, hence the commonly used name of the 'Football Battalion.' They fought at the Battle of the Somme amongst others and hold the distinction of having the first black infantry officer in the history of the British Army, namely Second Lt. Walter Tull who before the War played as inside-forward for Clapton, Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town. He was killed in an action in France on 25th March 1918. The Battalion was formed on 12th December 1914 and Bradford City and England international Frank Buckley was the first to join up. Notably, the entire teams of Clapton Orient and Heart of Midlothian joined up. In addition to players, referees, officials and football fans themselves joined too, hence the imagery on the poster's vignette. A number of decorations were issued to the soldiers of the Football Battalion, notably the Cardiff City and Wales international Lyndon Sandoe who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal with bar and the Military Medal. During the duration of the hostilities the Football Battalion lost over 1,000 men including 462 in one battle, Arras in 1917.