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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