Schoolboys of Britain To-Day Train to be the Mechanics and Soldiers of To-Morrow, 1939 UK poster: Three photographs show army

Schoolboys of Britain To-Day Train to be the Mechanics and Soldiers of To-Morrow (For Freedom series, F.D./F.4)

Three photographs show army apprentices at a machine tool, a boy apprentice at a lathe and army cadets with a Bren gun, under the title on boys training as mechanics and soldiers. The tell for transfer is the Union Jack device and 'For Freedom' label, and for glittering-generalities the closing claim that 'Britain's youth is playing a great part in the record mobilisation of Britain's manpower', given with no figures.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Transfer Glittering generalities

Date: 1939
Period: Second World War
Made by: 'For Freedom' series poster (Union Jack device); issuing body not named on the poster
Region: Western and Central Europe
Country: United Kingdom
Medium: Poster
Issuer type: State
Regime: Churchill Government
Leader: Winston Churchill
Audience: Foreign public
Purpose: Persuade or win support
Themes: War and the military, Home front
Event: World War II
Regime: Churchill wartime government
Leader: Winston Churchill
Source: Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
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; wartime British government-period print, hosted by owner decision
Issuer not named on the poster; British wartime poster. National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-561a.

Text on the object

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

F.D./F.4
Army apprentices learn to be expert mechanics.
A boy apprentice in industry learns to use a lathe.
Army cadets train with regular soldiers.

FOR FREEDOM
SCHOOLBOYS OF BRITAIN TO-DAY TRAIN TO BE THE MECHANICS AND SOLDIERS OF TO-MORROW

BOYS OF 15 TO 16 can volunteer for the Army as apprentices. They are given a thorough technical training in engineering, electrical work or carpentry. Then, when they join up at 18, they are fully-trained craftsmen. Other boys become apprentices in the munition works, and still others train as cadets with regular soldiers in the field. Thus, Britain's boys volunteer for training that will enable them to play their parts to the full in the war effort. Britain's youth is playing a great part in the record mobilisation of Britain's manpower.