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

TransferGlittering generalities

Date

1940

Period

Second World War

Made by

Director of Public Information, Ottawa, for the Minister of National War Services; artist R. Filipowski

Region

North America

Country

Canada

Medium

Poster

Issuer type

State

Regime

Mackenzie King Government

Leader

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Audience

Domestic public

Purpose

Mobilize or secure compliance

Themes

War and the military, Home front

Event

World War II

Source

Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are

Source

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026

Rights

Public domain (Canadian Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired; no URAA restoration)
Director of Public Information / Department of National War Services, Canada; artist R. Filipowski, c. 1940-1942. U.S. National Archives (NAID 44267839).

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