'YOUR Country Needs You' — was the powerful message in 1914 so powerfully illustrated by the iconic poster of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener's fingers pointing to the young men of Britain to join the nation's fight against the foe. It became a famous, visual symbol of the times when Great Britain and her Empire, alongside its Allies of France and Russia, faced the might of the German, Austrian and Turkish empires. The following letter was sent in by Okehampton historians and archivists Mike and Hilary Wreford and gives an interesting insight into the spirit of the country at the time. Throughout Britain, including West Devon, households received a letter from a House of Commons Parliamentary recruiting committee appealing to young men to enlist in the Armed Services and answer the call to arms and 'rally around the flag'. The letter, from the committee's presidents, was signed by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer Andrew Bonner Law and leader of the Labour Party Arthur Henderson. It came when the country was in a state of patriotic fervour, despite the British and French suffering huge losses after the setback at the Battle of Mons. In a bid to bolster the size of the Army by 100,000 new recruits the following missive was sent, appealing to people's patriotic instincts.

Dear Sir or Madam, 'We desire to draw your attention to the enclosed form, in which you are asked to state the names 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 assuage to attest those registered as their services are required. 'There has been a generous response to the appeal 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 the Allies, if were 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 in his own conscience whether he feels in the emergency, it is undoubtedly 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.'