Vintage Poster Archives
Canada's New Army 1942 | WW2 Recruitment Poster Aldwinckle
Canada's New Army 1942 | WW2 Recruitment Poster Aldwinckle
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A soldier on motorcycle rears up against bright blue sky, the machine's front wheel lifted skyward in a display of modern military might. Behind him materialises the ghostly figure of a medieval knight in full armour on horseback, linking Canada's contemporary army to centuries of martial tradition.
Designed by Eric Aldwinckle for Canada's Department of National Defence in 1941-1942, this recruitment poster depicts the spirit of a nation mobilising for war. Aldwinckle, who would later become an official RCAF war artist with the rank of Flight Lieutenant, created this piece during his earlier work as a propaganda poster designer. The composition balances brown earth tones of the uniformed soldier against the ethereal cream tones of the armoured knight.
The motorcycle becomes a symbol of technological progress and speed, while the knight evokes honour, courage, and the protection of values worth defending. This dual imagery was common in Canadian wartime propaganda, bridging modern warfare with traditional ideals of chivalry and service. The bold green and orange typography announces "CANADA'S NEW ARMY" in sans-serif letters designed to cut through visual noise and reach potential recruits.
This archival print speaks to collectors of military history, students of Canadian wartime design, and those who appreciate the intersection of tradition and modernity in graphic communication.
