Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Sucks Boo to you General!

Wikepdia defines lese-majesty thus:

Lèse-majesté (/ˌliːz ˈmædʒᵻsti/; also lese-majesty, lese majesty or leze majesty) is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

I think the cartoonist knew perfectly well that this crime did not relate to a mere General. The intention surely was to puncture the self-importance of the man at the back of the car. After four years of war there were signs of people refusing to see the military as all-important.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: The war and only the war

Big Sister sees blackberry picking as part of the war effort. This is just a bit too far but it emphasises how the war had permeated almost everything in daily life.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Yet another lady driver

The war effort is supposed to mean killing Germans not British Staff Officers.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Spoiling the effect

It used to be called ‘bags of swank’ during my days in the military. This involved the whole panoply of immaculately attired soldiers marching in perfect unison preferably with a band to help things along. What any of that had to do with winning a war I could never understand. In this example the whole effect is ruined by a four-legged interloper.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: The tide has turned

Hindenburg was the top man in the German army. In this scene reluctant German prisoners are being made to work. Their guard shows confidence that the entire German war machine is on the verge of total collapse.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Excuses

With the benefit of hindsight we know that the war is in its final stages. Without this benefit cartoons continue to follow the well-established theme. Very soon this hostess will be able to devote herself to her little dog without any accompanying feeling of guilt.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: We are more important!

Oxford and Cambridge colleges were being used for various purposes during the war. These cadets assume that the dons are interlopers whereas they really do own the place. Walking on the grass in the quadrangle was a privilege enjoyed only by the Fellows of the college.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: How to achieve ‘success’

No doubt this is at a charity bazaar directly connected to the war effort. The older woman is entirely blasé about overcharging.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Now you see, now you don’t

War or no war this hat was the ultimate statement about herself.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1918: Food shortages AND inflation

This cartoon is one of many commenting on the double problem of food shortage and inflation.