Bruce Bairnsfather -part 3

 

Charles Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959) served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). Before the war he had attempted to make his living as a commercial artist and he continued to sketch while at the Front. The horror of trench warfare had a profound effect on the young infantry officer but it was the stoic good humour of his men that inspired most of the cartoons he produced. Encouraged by his work's popularity with officers and men alike, Bairnsfather submitted a cartoon entitled, 'Where Did That One Go To?', to the 'The Bystander' magazine and it was accepted and published. Compilations of his cartoons, notably the 'Fragments from France' series, followed. Bairnsfather's artwork was reproduced widely in various forms and became the subject of successful theatrical and film productions. Invalided home, Bairnsfather became quite a celebrity but the British authorities seemed disinclined to promote the artist or his work. Bairnsfather was however in demand from Britain's allies and he went on to work with the French, Italian and United States armies. In October 1915. while training machine gun officers at Sutton Veny, Bairnsfather produced his most famous cartoon depicting two soldiers sharing a shell hole, entitled, 'Well if you knows a better' ole, go to it'. It was published in the Christmas issue of 'The Bystander', on 24 November 1915.

For earlier works see parts 1 & 2 also. This is part 3 of a 3-part series on the works of Bruce Bairnsfather:

Note: Dates were not found for the majority of images in the remainder of this series.

No, Colonel, sir, he says he only had one drink last night, but after that everything went blank.

Next Case!
To Commander Saxton from Bruce Bairnsfather with best wishes
pencil, pen & wash on paper 27.5 x 20 cm

My Dream
For Years to Come

His Dual Obsession
published in The Bystander

Frustrated Ingenuity

Envy at the Chateau
pencil, watercolour and white heightening on paper 35 x 25 cm

Danger! Water Fall 
pen and ink over pencil 35 x 27cm

Shoes from contented cows
pen and ink and wash over pencil 35 x 27cm

Other Times, Other Manners
The Decline of Poetry and Romance in War

"Old Bill"
Full of determination and plum & apple

Old Bill reprimanding a smoking youth
pen & ink, with traces of pencil, on paper 32 x 26 cm

Old Bill kneeling in front of the Cenotaph in Whitehall

The "Hitlercopter" If the horizontal propeller stopped, the machine would fall vertically

That Sword.
How he thought he was going to use it-
- and how he did use it.

Telepathy
 "Two minds with but a single thought."

The Thirst For Reprisals
 " 'And me rifle, someone. I'll give these ---'s 'ell for this!" 

The Things that Matter.
Scene: Loos, during the September offensive.

The Innocent Abroad.

"The Imminent, Deadly Breach"
" Mind you don't fall through the seat of your trousers, "Arry!"

The Communication Trench
Problem - Whether to walk along the top and risk it, or do another mile of this

To Commander Saxton R.N. All the best from Old Bill, Bruce Bairsfather
Perhaps it's as well that Old Bill was not in the Navy
pencil & crayon on brown paper 34 x 25.5 cm

Thoroughness.
"What time shall I call you in the morning, sir?"
(Colonel Chutney, V.C., home on short leave, decides to keep in touch with dug-out life.)

Things That Matter
Colonel Fitz-Shrapnel receives the following message from "G.H.Q." "Please let us know, as soon as possible, the number of tins of raspberry jam issued to you last Friday."

There Was a Young Man of Cologne
(I've forgotten the rest of the poem, but it's something about "a bomb" and "if only he'd known")

"There goes our blinkin' parapet again."

Untitled: Two soldiers, one of whom appears to be Old Bill, are snowed in. A nearby signpost humorously suggests the location is Russia

Ullo from Old Bill
pencil on paper  23.5 x 19 cm

"Where did that one go to?"

What's he doing now?
pencil & watercolour 37 x 25.5 cm

What's all this about unmarried men?

Well, if yer knows a Better Club go to it
(probably a club or restaurant menu or invitation)

War!
- As it is for most of us
This interesting view for 6 months.... or
This for half an hour

Small Series:

You can easily tell which is
the Supply Officer's hut,
particularly on a cold day

That's the best of having no sign-posts
you can ask the way

Soldier on a camel

Nissen Huts

At last!

And so, far into the night

"It is easier to build a new world than keep a hut stove alight at night"
(Old Spanish proverb)

Fragments from France

from The Bystander publication:

 Edition de luxe
Fragments from France

1916. More Fragments from France
published July 1916

1917 The Bystanders
Fragments from France
published August 1917

1917 Still More Fragments from France No. 3
published January 1917

The Bystanders Fragments No.5
published July 1918

1919 The Bystanders Fragments from France
published April 1919

The Bystanders Fragments from France
published late 1919 

Bruce Bairnsfather -part 2

Charles Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959) served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). Before the war he had attempted to make his living as a commercial artist and he continued to sketch while at the Front. The horror of trench warfare had a profound effect on the young infantry officer but it was the stoic good humour of his men that inspired most of the cartoons he produced. Encouraged by his work's popularity with officers and men alike, Bairnsfather submitted a cartoon entitled, 'Where Did That One Go To?', to the 'The Bystander' magazine and it was accepted and published. Compilations of his cartoons, notably the 'Fragments from France' series, followed. Bairnsfather's artwork was reproduced widely in various forms and became the subject of successful theatrical and film productions. Invalided home, Bairnsfather became quite a celebrity but the British authorities seemed disinclined to promote the artist or his work. Bairnsfather was however in demand from Britain's allies and he went on to work with the French, Italian and United States armies. In October 1915. while training machine gun officers at Sutton Veny, Bairnsfather produced his most famous cartoon depicting two soldiers sharing a shell hole, entitled, 'Well if you knows a better' ole, go to it'. It was published in the Christmas issue of 'The Bystander', on 24 November 1915.

For earlier works see part 1 also. This is part 2 of a 3-part series on the works of Bruce Bairnsfather:

1917 The Growth of Democracy

1917 In the Support Trench
Old Bill has practically decided to try to get Private Shinio (the ex-comedy-juggler-and-hand-balancer) transferred to another platoon.

1917 A Miner Success
 "They must 'ave 'ad some good news or somethin, Alf; you can 'ear em cheerin' quite plain." 

1918 No Answer
"Whats the matter with your 'ead Bill - Pelmanism? or caught it on a barrage?"
published in The Bystander

1918 "Ils ne passeront pas"
 "Old soldiers never say die, they'll simply block the way"

1918 His Fatal BeautyOld Bill:
“My wife married me for love, ye know, Bert" 
BERT (after prolonged and somewhat pained scrutiny of Bills face): "I had been wonderin’ what it was, Bill!"
 

1919 Captain Bairnsfathers first meeting with "Old Bill"
This historic incident took place during the first battle of Ypres, but the Censor held stern views about battle pictures in those days, so that it is only now that we are happily able to place it upon record in print.

1918 Cartoon for "New York World" February 21, 1918
original artwork 

1919 Old Bill in Camouflage
watercolour on paper 29 x 18.7 cm
Imperial War Museum, London

1919 Fragments Vol.1. No.1 July 16 1919
"Old  Bill's New Bill"

1919 Fragments Vol.1. No.2 July 23
"From Mud to Mufti."

1919 Fragments Vol.1. No.10. September 20
"Put that Stage Coach down!"

1919 Fragments Vol.1. No.16. November 1

1919 Fragments Vol.1. No.21. December 6

1920 Fragments Vol.II No. 26 January 10

1933 Laughing through the Orient
published by Hutchinson & Co. Publishers Ltd., London

1933 Laughing through the Orient
Before going to the East, it is just as well to be photographed if only to frighten the folks at home.

1933 Laughing through the Orient
Cross Section of the Awakening East

1933 Laughing through the Orient
The first week's the hardest, but even after, Bill found it harder to forget his "Self," and enter the "Supreme Nothing" (or IT).

1939 "Old Bill" Sees the World
The Bystander 17 May issue

1940 Old Bill does it again!
Title page

1940 Old Bill does it again!
"Deutchland Uber Alles"

1914 I'm sure the'll 'ear this damn thing squeskin'
1941 They must 'ave seen this damn thing blinkin'

1942 Major General Russell P. Harte
A pencil sketch from life
22 December 1942

1943 Jeeps & Jest's front cover

1943 Jeeps & Jest's title page

1944 Attack Nothin'! This is only a diversion! The real attack's comin' five miles to the left!
pen and ink, grey wash, watercolour on art board
Published in "Stars and Stripes"

1945 No Kiddin'!
A book of WW2 cartoons

1952 A River Landscape
oil on canvas 50.8 x 60.9 cm

Note: Dates were not found for the remainder of images in this series.

"A Hopeless Dawn"
 grey wash heightened with white on paper 27 x 25 cm

Anglo-Saxon
 "You're comin' along with me, my lad, as soon as this is over!"
(Hermann feels he does know a better 'ole) 

Alladin Pantomime

All the time we're sleepin safe and sound in our trenches Bert, there's blokes ou fishin around for these - things. We must never forget 'em
monochrome watercolour on paper 52 x 36.5 cm

All the best from Old Bill and Bruce Bairnsfather
monochrome wash over pencil heightened with body-colour
60 x 44cm

A pair of head studies
pencil on paper 38 x 25 cm

Bill & Alf
pencil on paper 14 x 9.8 cm

The Fatalist.
"I'm sure they'll 'ear this damn thing squeakin'."