| Place | Oceania: Australia, South Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ARTV01120 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | image: 61.4 x 45.7 cm; Overall: 64.4 x 48.6 |
| Object type | Poster |
| Physical description | photolithograph |
| Maker |
Unknown State Recruiting Committee A Vaughan Government Photolithographer |
| Place made | Australia: South Australia, Adelaide |
| Date made | c 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Eligible men do your duty and join Butler's 500: reinforce the boys at the front
Description
Australian First World recruitment poster issued by the State Recruiting Office, South Australia. At its centre is a sepia photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Phillip Butler in full military uniform. The image is set within an ornate frame against an orange background. The title text in white is positioned above and below the image and urges patriotic men to do their duty and reinforce the front line as one of 'Butler's 500'.
A career soldier and agricultural journalist Charles Phillip Butler (1880 -1953) joined the AIF in 1916 and was appointed second in command of the 43rd battalion. He reached the Western Front in November and by February 1917 had been promoted to Commanding Officer. He served at Messines, Warneton and Ypres and won a DSO in June 1917. Invalided home in February 1918 due to trench fever, he tried to raise 500 volunteer recruits to take back to the Front. Despite a vigorous campaign run by the State Recruiting Committee, 'Butler's 500' was never complete with only 37 enlisting by the time the war ended.