[WWI Essex Regiment] Original 1915 Recruitment Poster For The Halstead Volunteer Training Corps

Letterpress poster printed by W.H. Root at the Caxton Works in Halstead advertising a public meeting to talk about and enrolling members into the newly formed Volunteer Training Corps. It shows that the meeting was to take place in Halstead Town Hall on June 23rd 1915 and was to be addressed by Lieut.-General Sir Alfred Martin K.C.B. and that “all able-bodied men are eligible, also lads 16 and over”. 

The Volunteer Training Corps was formed in November 1914 following a perceived risk that England could be invaded by Germany following Zeppelin attacks. They recruited men who were deemed to be unsuitable for the regular army and were required to finance their own uniform and equipment, though were not authorised to carry weapons. They were not allowed to play an active role defending sensitive installations, and were thought of as a last line of defence should invasion occur. Hence the reason why they were unkindly dubbed the “Wife Guards”. Halstead VTC was formed in the summer of 1915 (hence the poster here) and their commander was Colonel Adams of Oaklands in Halstead. By 1916 the units were formally recognised and became Volunteer Battalions of their respective County regiments and were issued with weapons and formal training.

Approx. 445x570mm., tiny loss to upper right corner, approx 30mm central internal horizontal paper split and some peripheral wrinkling, however in remarkably good condition and a wonderful survivor.