Re: The Pages of Punch

1944: House name for the times

This name was chosen to distinguish this building from ‘mon repos’ which was the popular name for houses before the war. In 1944 the debris would have been caused by the flying bomb also known as the V1 weapon and also the doodle bug.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1944: Emmett and the Americans

Emmett is famous for his strange machines and fuddy-duddy people. Here he involves the American Army which was very strongly present in Britain in anticipation of the expected invasion of Europe. Even the gnomes look impressed. He has managed to combine the might of the Americans with his usual degree of whimsy. Providing 287 dainty afternoon teas does look be well beyond the capability of these two ladies.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1944: War production distorts the labour market

The cleaning lady is in privileged position. So many women found fairly well paid work in the munitions factories. The old-fashioned partners are at the mercy of the only cleaner available. This is certainly a gross exaggeration but the cartoon reflects how the peace time labour market has been significantly distorted.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1944: Anticipation of victory

I think that this cartoon reflects the growing realisation that final victory is not that far off. It wasn’t as soon as people felt in the autumn of 1944 but this feeling of elation was very present at the time.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1943: The officer class delusion

The young newly trained subaltern is convinced of his natural superiority. The cartoonist has shown an audience of men who are at least twice the age of this pipsqueak. We may be sure that their troubles would be well beyond the young man’s ability to solve.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1943: Oxford has two identities

The University was not Oxford’s only claim to fame. There was also the motor manufacturing company in Cowley which was very near to Oxford. Needless to say Detroit did not rate highly in the university league table. The American soldiers were very conscious of the difference. The two academics are surprised by the comparison.

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1944: A technology now well out of date

It is not just the typewriter (and it ribbon) that is now out of date. Typists have also gone the way of stage coaches and footmen.

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1944: Food again

Food did loom rather large in people’s minds at the time. However rationing had the effect that in the population as a whole people were better fed than before the war. The wealthy ate less but the poor ate more.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1944: American abundance

American soldiers were now present in ever increasing numbers. They were better paid, better equipped and better supplied than their British counterparts. Although I never witnessed it children did really say ‘got and gum chum’ to American soldiers and usually got what they asked for. The teacher here does not approve.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1945: Second time round

Only 21 years separated world War One from World War Two. The Tommies in this cartoon are old enough to have served in the previous conflict. Having invaded France in 1944 they are now revisiting their previous environment. This is a somewhat unlikely scenario but the cartoon does a valid point.