---
title: The Torch; Be Yours to Hold It High! (McCrae)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-the-torch-be-yours-to-hold-it-high-filipowski-1940/
description: A muscular figure raises a torch toward the twin pylons of the Canadian national memorial at Vimy, with lines adapted from John McCrae's 1915 poem 'In
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. The Torch; Be Yours to Hold It High! (McCrae)

[![The Torch; Be Yours to Hold It High!, 1940 Canada poster: A muscular figure raises a torch toward the twin pylons](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-the-torch-be-yours-to-hold-it-high-filipowski-1940.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-the-torch-be-yours-to-hold-it-high-filipowski-1940.jpg)

# The Torch; Be Yours to Hold It High! (McCrae)

A muscular figure raises a torch toward the twin pylons of the Canadian national memorial at Vimy, with lines adapted from John McCrae's 1915 poem 'In Flanders Fields'. The tell is the transfer of the dead soldiers' authority onto the present call, with the poem's warning that the dead 'shall not sleep' if the living 'break faith'.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
THE TORCH; BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH!
IF YE BREAK FAITH WITH US WHO DIE
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP, THOUGH POPPIES GROW
IN FLANDERS FIELDS.
McCRAE.

UE-2L
PRINTED IN CANADA

ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, OTTAWA, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HON. J. T. [illegible]RSON, MINIS[illegible]R OF NATIONAL WAR SERVICES.

R. FILIPOWSKI
```

[← Sealed Lips Will Save Our Ships](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-sealed-lips-will-save-our-ships-1940/) [To Naval Ship Workers →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-to-naval-ship-workers-1940/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Fragments of the Abydos king list from Ramesses II's temple, in the British Museum: rows of royal cartouches](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/abydos-king-list-ramesses-ii-temple-british-museum/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer)
- [Clay cylinder with the Ehulhul inscription of Nabonidus, king of Babylon, describing work on three temples](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/cylinder-nabonidus-ehulhul-inscription-555bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial)
- [Glazed-brick panel with a striding lion, from Babylon (reign of Nebuchadnezzar II)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ishtar-gate-panel-striding-lion-nebuchadnezzar-ii-604bce/) (Neo Babylonian Empire · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Limestone relief block of Ramesses II wearing the White Crown, a jubilee relief from his temple at Herakleopolis](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jubilee-relief-ramesses-ii-herakleopolis-met-05-4-256/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer)
- [Line drawing of the Great Kadesh battle relief on the walls of the Ramesseum, from Breasted's History of Egypt](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/kadesh-relief-ramesseum-breasted-drawing-1275bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Card stacking, Transfer). Content note: A drawing of an Egyptian royal battle relief showing Hittite soldiers and horses killed and drowned, as the king's monument presented the battle; it is a one-sided image made by the winning side's own account.
- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Egyptian alabaster jar inscribed with the name of Xerxes the Great in four languages (Old Persian, Elamite, Babylonian, Egyptian), 486 to 466 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/xerxes-jar-four-languages-486bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Transfer)