18-12-2016, 10:49 AM
892
Re: The Pages of Punch
1918: Prisoners in Quantity
The German officer has been put down by the mere Tommy to the amusement of the German other ranks. Dougie ‘Aig is, of course, Field Marshall (soon to become Earl Haig), the supreme commander of the British Expeditionary Force.
21-12-2016, 10:47 AM
896
Re: The Pages of Punch
1918: She doesn’t understand…
The little girl hasn’t properly understood the full implications of this remark.
By this stage in the war people had begun to harden themselves to the heavy load of deaths. As well as ‘stop a bullet’ another cynical description popular at the time there was ‘he is pushing up daisies’ as the answer to what is so-and-so doing just now.
22-12-2016, 10:46 AM
897
Re: The Pages of Punch
1918: Uncle Sam to the Rescue
America’s entry into the war in 1917 was a really important factor in Germany’s defeat. After all the bloodshed the three main participants (Britain, France and Germany) were near exhaustion. As more and more fit and able American soldiers arrived the balance was moving decisively in the Allies’ favour. Two main reasons stand out for the Germans’ acceptance of defeat – the arrival of the Americans and the widespread civilian riots protesting against inadequate food.
Naturally the artist shows the Americans in a good light indicating a more free and easy relationship between Officers and Enlisted Men than existed in the British Army. Theodore (aka Teddy) Roosevelt was the larger than life ex-President.
23-12-2016, 10:58 AM
898
Re: The Pages of Punch
1918: Is this a job that only man can perform?
The title of this cartoon mentions combing out. That was the urgent pressure to release as many men as possible for the army. Often there was an attempt by the man’s employer to have an exception made for this ‘essential’ employee. The Queen makes it clear that the case has been heard by a tribunal which has decided that an exemption cannot be made for the male court jester.
This cartoon is one of many drawn by the same artist in which modern situations are placed in the past, literature or the bible. Had there really been any combing out in the Middle Ages then naturally the King would not need to ask for an exemption.
24-12-2016, 10:48 AM
899
Re: The Pages of Punch
1918: Away from the Front
A fair number of soldiers never saw the front line even in 1918. Various support activities used up a substantial number of men although there was a strong intent for women to assume these support roles. The soldier complains that his current task cannot be sees as contributing to the war effort.
Since Britain is an island an invader would have to arrive by sea. Sea forts were established around the coast to attack an enemy invader. Since the man scrubbing the table is a Gunner we can take it that this is a Royal Artillery unit. No invasion was ever attempted which means but the Sergeant Major and the Gunner were going to see out the war in safety.
25-12-2016, 11:06 AM
900
Re: The Pages of Punch
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!-----------------
1918: Scarcity was the Normal Situation
Although the war is not mentioned it clearly has influenced this cartoon. The title here is the Queue Habit. We can see that many items are scarce. Today Post Offices are few although there are many sub post offices. More and more transactions take place online.
|
|
