The following are a selection of cartoons drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1957), during the first World War. Bairnsfather's cartoons were originally printed in The Bystander magazine and were widely acclaimed by both the troops and the civilians. Bairnsfather was the most successful and well-known of the war cartoonists, and memorabilia concerning his art is still widely collected. This includes a series of cards which were often sent to the Front as presents for the soldiers. During the Second World War, Bairnsfather's art was widely used on propaganda posters.
Cover To Bullets and Billets (1916)
The cover shows Bairnsfather's most famous character; Tommy "Ole Bill" Busby.
A Hopeless Dawn (Bullets and Billets, 1916)
Bairnsfather's cartoons were usually lighthearted despite their setting. This one is less amusing and depicts 'Ole Bill looking meditatively across No-Man's Land. The dark sky and ramshackle trench are typical of Bairnsfather's art, which draws a more realistic picture of the war in France.
Christmas 1914, (Bullets and Billets,1916).
A recreation of the unofficial Truce that took place between troops on Christams Day, 1914. Many soldiers climbed out of the trenches and swapped trinkets, cigarettes and food with each other. There were also several unofficial football matches between the two sides. In this picture, soldiers of all ranks from German and English armies can be seen mingling aimiably. Bairnsfather did not demonise the German soldier, and the two English soldiers in the foreground (a private and an officer) seem to be trying to ask the German on the left a question.
Another very typical Bairnsfather cartoon, showing rain, mud and boredom. In this case, all the soldiers in the picture are unable to sit in the trench because it is flooded and cluttered with rubbish.
To read more about the Cartoons of the Great War, click here.
