The Sentry Quits His Post Only When Properly Relieved
A soldier in profile stands guard with a rifle on his shoulder before a large American flag and rows of tents. The only text is the maxim that a sentry leaves his post only when properly relieved, set as a general rule of duty. The poster makes no explicit request; its tell is the association of the flag and the soldier with an abstract virtue of steadfastness.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1917
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- Unattributed U.S. wartime poster (Service Series No. 9)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Mixed
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
Unattributed U.S. wartime poster (Service Series No. 9). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-265.
Text on the object
SERVICE SERIES No. 9 THE SENTRY QUITS HIS POST ONLY WHEN PROPERLY RELIEVED
