Join the Indian Navy
A grey warship under the White Ensign leads merchant ships across a dark sea above the title 'Join the Indian Navy', with a block of text on ages, education, pay in rupees, free food and uniform, and where to apply. Most of the poster is factual recruiting terms; the one persuasive device is the opening phrase 'Splendid opportunities', a virtue word with no figures attached.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Royal Indian Navy recruiting; printed by The Times of India Press, Bombay (job no. 288); artist Frank Norton
- Region
- South Asia
- Country
- British India
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- British Raj
- Leader
- Victor Hope
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Themes
- War and the military, Empire and colonialism
- 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
- Held by NARA, Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision (Royal Indian Navy recruiting poster, Bombay 1942)
Royal Indian Navy; printed by The Times of India Press, Bombay; artist Frank Norton, National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-4.
Text on the object
JOIN THE INDIAN NAVY Splendid opportunities exist in The Royal Indian Navy for Educated Boys between the ages of 15-17 and for Youths of 17½-26 (SPECIAL SERVICE ENTRY) Applications for the following Branches are also invited:- WRITERS, SICK BERTH ATTENDANTS, STEWARDS and COOKS:- particulars of pay and conditions on application. For Signal and WIRELESS Branches a good knowledge of ENGLISH is essential. For special service SEAMAN and STOKER entry, VI Standard Education is necessary. Pay Commences:- Boys, Rs. 15. Special service entry:- SEAMEN and STOKERS Rs. 40. SIGNAL and WIRELESS BRANCHES Rs. 60. If promoted to commissioned Warrant Rank pay rises to Rs. 460 Additional pay varying from Rs. 2/- to Rs. 40/- per mensem is payable to Ratings and Warrant Officers serving under certain conditions, on account of Expatriation, Batta, Extra duty pay, Specialist allowances, etc. Annual leave granted with free travelling on completion of one years service. Food, Accommodation and Uniform are provided FREE. For further particulars apply to:- The nearest RECRUITING OFFICER Dates of Recruiting Tours and announcements Regarding special Service Entry appear in the Press. ROYAL INDIAN NAVY FRANK NORTON 1940 THE TIMES OF INDIA PRESS, BOMBAY. 1942 JOB No 288 [pencil:] 2 copies (deferred) M/o New Delhi 6-6
