World War I-era original color 19.75 x 30.25 British recruitment poster for the Sportsmen's Battalions, which features red and blue borders and upper and lower text: “The Sportsman Battalion's Recruit Who Wrecked the Zeppelin and Won the V.C. Follow His Lead and Join the Sportsman's Battalion.” The central image of an aviator, used by permission of F. M. Birkett and the ‘Daily Sketch,’ is ostensibly William Leefe Robinson, the first British pilot to shoot down an airship over Britain during WWI. Printed by W. Straker Ltd., Piccadilly. Professionally canvas-backed to a slightly larger size. Restored to fine, rolled condition, with intersecting folds.
The Sportsman's Battalions, also known as the 23rd (Service) Battalion and 24th (Service) Battalion (2nd Sportsman's), Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) were among the Pals battalions formed by the British Army in the early stages of the First World War. Rather than be taken from a small geographical area, these particular battalions were largely made up of men who had made their name in sports such as cricket, golf, boxing and football or the media.
