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Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

(1850-1916), Field Marshal

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum

20th Century Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 150 portraits
Kitchener was the epitome of the imperialist military general, who commanded the British army in Egypt, the Sudan, India and in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). As Secretary of State for War from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he converted the small British army into a military machine of three million men and his image was used for the iconic army recruitment campaign with the slogan: 'Your country needs you'. It was based on Bassano's photograph of Kitchener, with the addition of a pointing arm. It first appeared on the cover of London Opinion magazine on 5 September 1914 and was adopted for recruitment purposes soon after. Several poster and postcard versions followed, and it became one of the most iconic images of the World War One era.

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Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Alexander Bassano - NPG x127982

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano
printing-out paper cabinet card, 1895
On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x127982

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Alexander Bassano, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x193878

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s (1895)
NPG x193878

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Alexander Bassano, published by  Ogden's - NPG x197036

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano, published by Ogden's
cigarette card, 1895, published circa 1898-1907
NPG x197036

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, by Alexander Bassano, published by  P. Scopes & Co Ltd - NPG x196885

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener

by Alexander Bassano, published by P. Scopes & Co Ltd
embossed halftone postcard print, 1914-1916 (1895)
NPG x196885

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