Heroic Gallery

The Last Man, Hans Bohrdt - Propaganda - German navy officer

In 1915 Hans Bohrdt created his most famous illustration which is called "The Last Man". The image shows a German navy officer holding up a German flag as his ship sinks because he would rather go down with the ship than surrender during the Battle for the Falkland Islands on 8th December 1914. "The Last Man" would become one of the most widely recognized propaganda images used during the First World War to inspire courage. Date: 1915

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

WW2 greetings card, Corporal Joan Pearson

WW2 greetings card, Corporal J.D.M. Pearson, official war picture by Laura Knight, official war picture from the National Gallery. The message inside reads: When an aircraft crashed near her quarters at a Royal Air Force Station, Corporal Pearson rushed out and, although the aircraft was burning and she knew that there were bombs aboard, she stood on the wreckage, roused the severely injured pilot, who was stunned, and assisted him to get clear, releasing his parachute harness in doing so. When he was on the ground, a 120 pound bomb went off about 30 yards away. Corporal Pearson at once threw herself on the top of the pilot to protect him from the blast and splinters. Her prompt and courageous action undoubtedly helped to save the pilots life. Joan Daphne Mary Pearson (1911-2000) was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), later to become the George Cross, for her heroism. Date: circa 1942

© The March of the Women Collection/Mary Evans Picture Library

Heroic deeds of the War - Corporal Josephine M C Robins

Heroic deeds of WW2 - Corporal Josephine M C Robins, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Awarded the Military Medal (MM) for exceptional courage in an air-raid on RAF Detling on August 13th 1940. The dugout in which she was sheltering received a direct hit during an intense raid and a number of men were killed and injured. She gave first aid to the wounded and remained with them under terrible conditions. Date: 1940

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection