First World War Recruitment Poster (1915).

Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the iconic face of British army recruitment posters and Secretary of State for war, was born in County Kerry in 1850. Why should Irishmen fight for the English? Ulster Unionists saw it as an opportunity to showcase their loyalty to the Empire. The Nationalist community was divided, with Irish Parliamentary Party leader John Redmond encouraging Irishmen to join up and fight for Home Rule, while others saw "England's difficulty as Ireland's opportunity." Over 200,000 Irishmen joined up. The Heuston family, who lived in the house which now houses the Little Museum of Dublin, had twin sons who fought in World War 1. One of them was among the 30,000 Irishmen who was killed in The Great War.