Achurch, Northamptonshire: Home of the Famous War Recruitment Poster

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Alfred Leete was born in Achurch in Northamptonshire. His name is not well known, but he designed what went on to become the most famous recruitment poster of all time: the picture of Lord Kitchener, with staring eyes and pointing finger. The image was widely copied by both allies and enemies during the war, and is still influential today. The image was a masterpiece of artistic licence. It was that of a much younger Kitchener, copied from an 1895 postcard – and the famous staring eyes were a work of fiction. In reality Kitchener had a pronounced squint. The illustration was originally commissioned for a magazine, but became so popular that it was privately printed and distributed as a poster. Leete himself served in the Artists Rifles, and had a moderately successful career as an artist. But there is no doubt of his single most famous and influential work. Location: Thorpe Achurch, Northants NN14 Image shows Lord Kitchener on the world-famous WW1 recruitment poster Presented by Martyn Thatcher