Volunteer Collection

UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force Poster
Notice posted by the Ulster Volunteer Force intending to quell speculation that its founding was a direct violent challenge to those of differing views within Ulster

Gun Running by Ulster Volunteer Force
Rifles and ammunition are landed at Donaghadee, County Down, by the Ulster Volunteer Force and loaded onto a charabanc usually used in the summer for tourists to the area

AFS despatch rider and messenger, WW2
An AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) despatch rider and messenger on a motorbike at an LFS sub-station during the Second World War

Acton Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances
District Council of Acton Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances typical of those used at the time: a horse drawn steamer, horse drawn manual pump, horse drawn escape, hand wheeled escape

Blitz in London - AFS firefighter, WW2
Blitz in London - a smiling AFS firefighter, a former Smithfield meat porter named Eddie

Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances typical of those used at the time: a horse drawn steamer, horse drawn manual pump, horse drawn escape, hand wheeled escape, and a hose cart

CIVIL WAR: UNION SOLDIER. A volunteer Union soldier with a rifle and bayonet. Photograph, c1862

Women of Britain - World War Two poster
World War Two poster encouraging the women of Britain to answer the call and go and work in the munitions factories

World War I recruitment poster
Poster produced by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee during World War I, depicting a typical British Tommy in uniform with bayonet fixed, calling across from France to England for more volunteers

Royal Proclamation 1914
Proclamation by King George V calling for men for the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Fleet Reserve, and for officers and men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY)
A woman cyclist first aid scout of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), riding along in her distinctive uniform. The FANY was created in 1907 as a first aid link between front-line fighting units

Recruitment Poster
Recruitment poster from the First World War depicting an unclaimed soldiers kit and uniform, waiting to be filled by a volunteer

Arming the Ulster Volunteer Force: Gun-running scenes at Lar
The scene at Larne(20 miles from Belfast), where over 200 tons of guns and ammunitions were unloaded from the disguised steamer Mountjoy by the Ulster Volunteer Force

Military / East India Co
NAPOLEONIC ERA East India Company Volunteer

RAF Sea King Helicopter crew attend a mountain rescue incident in the Lake District UK
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Hendon Fire Brigade (later part of Middlesex FB)
In 1855 a fire brigade was established in Hendon, renamed the Hendon Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1866, and a manual fire engine was kept in a building near the church

CIVIL WAR RECRUITMENT. Recruitment poster of the 22nd Cavalry Regiment, formed at Rochester, New York during the Civil War

Bristol
Members of the Bristol contingent. The Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters (also known as the Volunteer Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters and simply as CCCF)

Ulsters Oath - The Bulldog will not submit to Home Rule
Remember Castledawson (a UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) stronghold in County Derry) written on a staunchly Unionist postcard entitled Ulsters Oath - " Under no cirsumstances shall we submit to

Nieuport 17s of the French N124 Escadrille Lafayette
Four Nieuport 17s of the French N124 Escadrille Lafayette, formed of French commanded American volunteer pilots. The squadron was formed in April 1916

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) standing in a group, Falkland Islands, Volunteer Point

Portsmouth (exact location unknown). The Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters (also known as the Volunteer Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters and simply as CCCF)

Gladys McIntyre giving doughnuts to an American infantryman of the 26th Division at Ansonville, North Carolina
WORLD WAR I: INFANTRYMAN. Gladys McIntyre giving doughnuts to an American infantryman of the 26th Division at Ansonville, North Carolina, 9 April 1918

Volunteer Camp Windsor, I. Sleeping Partners. 2. Military Position, 3. In Flagrante Delicto. 4. Hi, Sir I What The 5. The Humphrey Cup. 6. A Commercial Speculation. 7. A Tight Fit. 8

LFB-AFS convoy and fire exercise
Part of the Civil Defence Corps until it was disbanded in the late 1960s, the Auxiliary Fire Service consisted of volunteer firefighters who would attend a fire station for drill and training

Blitz in London -- AFS firefighters, WW2
Blitz in London -- a personal photograph, taken by a colleague, of life in the AFS at a sub-station, showing firewomen on the Heavy Unit of Sub-station 67Z

Advert for recruiting women for the WaF 1941
You ought to be driving in the WaF. Recruitment of women for The Womens Auxiliary Air Force. Conscription of women did not begin until 1941

EVCW2A-00048
Recruiting for the Union Armys Bucktail Regiment in Philadelphia, American Civil War. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th century illustration

Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, 1915
Members of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve at Karonga, in the north of the country. Karonga was the scene of much fighting in September 1914

Photograph of Volunteer PH, Barking, Essex. The main side of the print (shown here) depicts: Left Face on view of the pub. The back of the print (available on request) details: Trading Record 1935

Sketch of Volunteer PH, Baker Street, London. The main side of the print (shown here) depicts: Sketch of the pub. The back of the print (available on request) details: Nothing for the Volunteer

Lt Browning, Major Kinloch and Dr Francis Brett Young
Lieutenant Browning, Major Kinloch (Calcutta Volunteer Battery) and Dr Francis Brett Young in East Africa during WW1. circa 1916

Italian unification (1859-1924). Castelfidardo battle. Papal troops were defeated. Engraving. L Illustration (1860). Colored

A CCF crew
Crewing a British fire appliance somewhere outside Portsmouth. The Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters (also known as the Volunteer Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters and simply as CCCF)

Lady Londonderry, WW1
Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry DBE (3 December 1878 23 April 1959), noted society hostess, and, during the First World War director of the Womens Legion

H. M. S. PRESIDENT
H.M.S. President, training ship of the British Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, moored on the Victoria Embankment, River Thames, central London. Date: 1960s

Canadians in Southampton
The Southampton contingent of the CCCF who were billeted near the docks at the Apollo Hotel. The Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters

Advert for the recruitment of men for the RAF 1941
Fly with the RAF. Volunteer now! Heres the chance you ve been waiting for - to fly with the R.A.F be a pilot (age 18 - 30), Air Observer (18 - 32) or wireless operator/air gunner (18 - 32)

Union volunteer refreshment saloon of Philadelphia

Britannia and Eve September 1942
Second World War era front cover of Britannia and Eve magazine featuring a blonde nurse with immaculately coiffed hair and obligatory red lipstick. Theres glamour in wartime nursing you know!

United Arts Volunteer Rifles, 1916
United Arts Volunteer Rifles constructing defences at Woldingham during World War I in 1916

Local Defence Volunteer Force
The uniform of the Local Defence Volunteer Force, established to defend Britain against the anticipated invasion by German parachutists

Mountain rescue team members in the Scottish Highlands
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Strike / Volunteer Signals
An undergraduate volunteer in a railway signal box during the General Strike

Hyde Pk Military Review
Great review of 80, 000 Volunteers by Queen Victoria in Hyde Park

LFB-AFS parade for an exercise
Part of the Civil Defence Corps, until it was disbanded in the late 1960s, the Auxiliary Fire Service consisted of volunteer firefighters who would attend a fire station for drill and training

Irkutsk Voluntary Fire Society. Community squad and police team, 1894 Creator: R Prorokov
Irkutsk Voluntary Fire Society. Community squad and police team, 1894. This collection of photographs and documents from the private archive of Sergei Mikhailovich Chashchin relates to

Irkutsk Voluntary Fire Society. Society Council, 1894. Creator: R Prorokov
Irkutsk Voluntary Fire Society. Society Council, 1894. This collection of photographs and documents from the private archive of Sergei Mikhailovich Chashchin relates to the establishment of a

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"Volunteer: A Legacy of Courage and Service" In the tumultuous history of our world, the spirit of volunteerism has shone brightly through various chapters. From the UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force Poster to Gun Running by Ulster Volunteer Force, individuals have stepped forward selflessly to protect their communities and fight for what they believe in. During WW2, brave souls like the AFS despatch rider and messenger risked their lives on the frontlines, ensuring vital messages reached those who needed them most. The Acton Volunteer Fire Brigade with appliances battled against raging flames during the Blitz in London, embodying resilience amidst chaos. Even in times of civil unrest such as the CIVIL WAR: UNION SOLDIER era, volunteers like Union soldiers armed themselves with rifles and bayonets to defend their nation's unity. Their unwavering dedication captured in a photograph from c1862 serves as a testament to their sacrifice. Women too played an integral role during wartime; Women of Britain - World War Two poster stands as a reminder that female volunteers contributed significantly towards victory. Similarly, World War I recruitment posters called upon men from all walks of life to join forces for a common cause. The Royal Proclamation 1914 echoed throughout nations, inspiring countless individuals to become part of something greater than themselves. Organizations like First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) provided essential medical aid on battlefields where every second counted. Through powerful recruitment posters urging citizens into action, societies rallied together under one banner – volunteerism. These images served not only as calls for help but also symbols representing unity and strength during challenging times. From UVF gun runners protecting their community's interests to courageous firefighters battling infernos or soldiers defending freedom – these diverse examples remind us that volunteering is more than just lending a hand; it is an embodiment of bravery and selflessness etched into our collective memory forever.