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World War I Recruitment Poster [Wikipedia]

Saturday 11th November 1914: Letters like the one printed below have been received across the county asking householders to register any members of their household who are prepared to enlist. Many men across Bedfordshire have already joined up since the war began in August and it is clear the County is determined to do its bit to defeat Germany and its allies.

Parliamentary Recruiting Committee12 Downing Street, London SW
November 1914 

Dear Sir or Madam

We desire to draw your attention to the enclosed form, in which you are asked to state the names of those of your household who are willing to enlist for the War. By filling in and posting the Householder’s Return without delay, you will render material assistance to the War Office. The names returned will be entered in a Register, and the nearest Recruiting Officer will arrange to attest those registered as their services are required. 

There has been a generous response to the appeal for men for the new Armies, but the number of recruits, though large, does not nearly meet the Nation’s need. In order to maintain and reinforce our troops abroad and to complete the new Armies which we hope within a few months to throw into the field, we need all the best the Nation can give us of its youth and strength. 

If we are to repair as far as may be humanly possible the innumerable wrongs inflicted on our Allies, if we are to avoid for ourselves the ills which they have suffered, if we are to maintain for our children all that we hold dear- honour, freedom, our very life as a Nation – we must fight with the courage and endurance which won for us the struggles of the past. 

Every man, therefore, who is eligible will ask his own conscience whether, in this emergency, it is not his duty to hold himself ready to enlist in the forces of the Crown. 

The difficulties and dangers which confront us have never been so great; we await the issue with confidence, relying on the spirit and self-sacrifice of our fellow-countrymen to prevail.

We are, Your obedient Servants, 

H.H.Asquith, A Bonar Law, Arthur Henderson (Presidents)

Source: FAC159/2/2