Item HT 29957 Certificate of Appreciation - 'The Empire Called Us', World War I, circa 1914-1918

Summary

Framed image of an unknown serviceman who served in World War I Around the image are the flags of eight separate countries and the photographs of two British politicians and King George V. An unfurled banner has the words 'The Empire called us' inscribed upon it.

At the top of the border around the mounted image is a photograph of King George V with the caption 'His Majesty the King.' George V was the reigning British Monarch throughout World War I. In 1917 George V changed the family name of the British monarchs from 'Saxe-Coburg-Gotha' to its present name of 'Windsor.' The crossed flags of Britain and Australia are on either side of the photograph of the king. The Union Jack is on the left side, a position that gives it precedence over the Australian flag on the other side. The Australian flag used is the Red Ensign. The Red Ensign has the same design as the Australian National Flag but with a red background instead of the blue. Australians fought in both World Wars under the Red Ensign, although the current Australian National Flag (the Blue Ensign) was used for official purposes. Due to confusion about the use of the two flags the Flags Act 1953 declared Blue Ensign to be the National Flag of Australia and the Red Ensign became the official flag for Australian Merchant vessels.

Under the portrait of George V is a drawn image of what looks to be the Royal Horse Artillery (given the presence of both horses and heavy artillery) engaged in battle. Below this image is the photograph of the unknown soldier in uniform against a backdrop. To the left of this image are the national flags of Italy, Belgium and Serbia. On the right of the image are the national flags of Russia (showing the Imperial Eagle in the canton), France and the war flag of the Imperial Japanese Army.

In the bottom left corner is a photograph of Sir Edward Grey, Viscount Grey of Fallodon, with the caption 'Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey Bt MD.' Sir Edward Grey was the British Foreign Secretary from 1905-16. In the bottom right corner is the photograph of Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener with the caption 'Lord Kitchener.' Lord Kitchener was the British Minister of War and his image was used on the British recruitment posters which depicted him with an outstretched hand pointing at the viewer with the slogan 'Your country wants YOU.'

Underneath the image of the unknown soldier and between the photographs of Sir Edward Grey and Lord Kitchener is a photograph of Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, with an insert above it of men landing from the boats. An inscription to the left of these images identifies what is shown and names the photograph as Sergeant Robert Carnie.

Physical Description

Printed certificate inset with black and white photograph of unknown soldier in uniform. Around the border of the image are the flags of eight different countries and the images of three British dignitaries. Also included are two images of Gallipoli underneath the soldier's portrait and a drawn image of what appears to be the Royal Horse Artillery above the image. Moulded frame with decorative floral design, glass missing.