Bruce Bairnsfather | Illustrated London News
from the archives of The Illustrated London News
Contact Us
|
Create an Account
Sign In
Main menu
Home
Timeline
Timeline
1914
Franz Ferdinand assassinated
Europe declares war
Recruitment begins
Battle of Mons
Battle of the Marne
Battle of the Aisne
East Coast bombed
1915
Edith Cavell executed
Poison gas introduced
Gallipoli Campaign begins
RMS Lusitania sunk
Munitions Ministry created
1916
Verdun Offensive begins
Battle of Jutland
Somme Offensive begins
1917
USA enters the war
W.A.A.C. established
Battle of Passchendaele
1918
Rationing introduced
Russian Armistice signed
Operation Michael begins
Hundred Days Offensive
Spanish Flu peaks
Armistice signed
1919
Peace Treaty signed at Versailles
Cenotaph unveiled
The ILN at War
Titles
The Illustrated War News
The Illustrated London News
The Sphere
The Tatler
The Bystander
The Sketch
The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
The Graphic
Buy the Magazine
Topics
War ArtistsAAlfred LeeteAmedee ForestierAnnie FishArthur WattsBBert ThomasBruce BairnsfatherEEdmund BlampiedEdward Tennyson ReedFFortunino MataniaFrank ReynoldsFrederic VilliersGG. H. DavisGeorge BelcherGeorge StuddyHH. M. BatemanHarold C. EarnshawHarry L. OakleyHelen McKiePPercival AndersonPhilip DaddRRaphael KirchnerReginald HigginsRichard Caton WoodvilleSSamuel BeggSteven SpurrierWWill OwenWilliam Heath Robinson
Teaching
Blog
Search
Home
War Artists
Bruce Bairnsfather
Bruce Bairnsfather
(1887–1959)
‘Things that Matter’ by Bruce Bairnsfather, 1917
Charles Bruce Bairnsfather was born in Muree, India, the son of an Army officer, and educated at the United Services College in Westward Ho. He showed an aptitude for caricature at school, but little interest in studying. He served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment but left to train at John Hassall’s New Art School.
Despite impressing his tutor, Charles Van Havermat, he found it difficult to secure regular commissioned work and took a job with a firm of lighting engineers. When war broke out, Bairnsfather rejoined his old regiment, serving as a machine-gun officer, rising from second lieutenant to captain. While in the trenches, Bairnsfather resumed his talent for drawing, much to the amusement of his fellow officers.
Encouraged to send his pictures to the papers, he chose The Bystander magazine, which published his first cartoon on 31 March 1915. The magazine subsequently hired him to produce a picture for each issue. He created a cast of typical British Tommies, with the character “Old Bill” in the starring role.
The cartoons were an instant hit with both the men at the front and readers at home. Their popularity led to Old Bill and his friends being featured on a range of merchandise as well as inspiring a stage play in 1917 followed by a screen version.
Bairnsfather’s morale-boosting role was recognised when he was created “Officer Cartoonist” in the Intelligence Department by the War Office; he also spent time with the French, American and Italian armies. During the Second World War, he was Official War Artist to the US Army. His illustrations continued to be published in The Bystander until it merged with The Tatler in 1940.
Find us onTwitter
History Pin
DiscoverTimeline
The ILN at War
War Artists
Titles
Topics
HelpHow to Use This Site
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
CompanyAbout Us
Contact Us
Copyright and Credits
© 2014 Copyright ILN LIMITED. All rights reserved.
This site uses cookiesOkay, thanksFind out more