Our Heritage
A large portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson in uniform with a telescope, above his prayer on the eve of Trafalgar quoted in full and attributed to him, under the heading 'Our Heritage'. The tell is the borrowed authority: Nelson's 1805 prayer and the printed legend 'to recall other occasions of the nation's will and high purpose' set the wartime nation beside a past victory, and his words vouch for the cause.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- London Transport (printed by The Baynard Press); artist Austin
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Corporation
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- 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 (UK work published 1943, 50 years expired; hosted by owner decision)
London Transport (printed by The Baynard Press); artist Austin. National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-323.
Text on the object
OUR HERITAGE Printed for the passengers and staff of London Transport to recall other occasions of the nation's will and high purpose. AUSTIN 1943 May the great God Whom I worship grant to my country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet. For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him that made me, and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which it is entrusted to me to defend. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. LORD NELSON, on the eve of the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805 [imprint:] 248. 204 S. 1500. The Baynard Press.
