Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: Who is the victim?

This looks like Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. The audience look anything but hysterical. It is the speaker himself who is open to that accusation.

Re: The Pages of Punch

A bit like some threads here MrMagoo

Re: The Pages of Punch

No names, of course!

Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: Ignoring the risk

This cartoon is one of a group which praises people who simply ignore the risk of becoming a victim of an air raid. This was unwise.

However, I do remember that as a 13 year old schoolboy I would not take shelter during air raids on the way home from school. Instead I would collect warm pieces of shrapnel. I didn’t tell my mother that. That was not the only time that I was very lucky. I didn’t tell my mother that.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: Insisting on finding humour in air raids

If this scenario is to be thought authentic is must have occurred far away from London or any big towns. The residents of those conurbations would learn the difference very quickly.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: The reality of air raids

For once we are confronted with what actually happens during air raids. The artist is trying hard to find humour in the face of massive destruction.

Re: The Pages of Punch

Personally, I think he succeeded

Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: A surreal attempt at humour

Military zones were declared to prevent secret installations being compromised. The artist here is presenting us with a fantastic impossibility.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1940: London bombing

This cartoon was literally true. Some buildings in the vicinity of St Paul’s Cathedral had indeed been wiped out affording a better view. As this is a cartoon I wonder whether we are meant to see this as a gross exaggeration. It wasn’t.

Re: The Pages of Punch

Amazing that St Paul's was left standing, it must have become a prime target.