|
Date: |
|
Description: | This rag doll is dressed as a WW1 soldier and based on the character created by Bruce Bairnsfather. Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959) took part in the First World War and served on the Western Front. While there, Bairnsfather drew pictures of trench life which were extremely popular with the soldiers in the trenches and in 1915 The Bystander magazine began publishing his drawings. In April 1915, he took part in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, where he endured a chlorine gas attack and was badly wounded by a shell explosion. While in London hospital, The Bystander commissioned him to do a weekly drawing for the magazine. Later Bairnsfather's drawings were published in a series of books entitled Fragments From France. He also published two books on his war experiences, Bullets and Billets (1916) and From Mud to Mufti (1919). It was during this period that Bairnsfather created his famous cartoon character, Old Bill. The character was based either on his commanding officer in France, Sir Herbert Plumer, or on Sydney Godley, the first private to win the Victoria Cross in WW1. In the 1920s and 1930s several plays and films were produced featuring Bairnsfather's Old Bill character. Other books written and drawn by Bairnsfather during this period included Carry on Sergeant! (1927), Laughing Through the Orient (1933), Old Bill Looks at Europe (1935) and Old Bill Stands By (1939). During World War Two Captain Bairnsfather was appointed as an official cartoonist to the American Forces in Europe. This work included contributing drawings for the American Forces newspaper, Stars and Stripes.
Bruce Bairnsfather's Old Bill character was extremely famous; first appearing in the poster "If you know of a better 'ole, go to it" Old Bill was a comic figure which gained great popularity during the first world war. Bairnsfather's direct experience of the trenches allowed him to irreverently portray the character of Old Bill, which grew in popularity with the troops and was considered to have a morale boosting effect. When Bairnsfather's health deteriorated to the point where active service was no longer viable, he was appointed "Officer Cartoonist", the first ever person appointed to this post. Throughout the rest of the First World War he was loaned to the French, Italians and Americans to produce cartoons to boost morale for the troops. The character of Old Bill rapidly grew in popularity and was turned into a variety of collectibles. This includes the very rare ole bill doll, but the character was also turned into car ornaments, pub signs, featured in musicals and films, mugs, figurines and china ware. Old Bill was also painted onto the sides of two World War Two bombers, one by Bairnsfather himself, the other by an unknown artist. One of the possible origins for the slang term for describing British Police as the "Old Bill" is Bairnsfather's character, whose characteristic walrus moustache was popular amongst police forces. The doll was made by J. K. Farnell & Co, and bears the label "Reg no 662457 OLE BILL MASCOTT made in England". J. K Farnell was founded by John Kirby Farnell, a silk merchant, in 1840. The company is believed to have produced the first teddy bear in England. This doll was likely produced after 1921, as it bears the Alpha mark; the Alpha factory was not used by the company until 1921 and the trademark Alpha with which they marked many of their products was not registered until 1925. The Alpha trademark was also used on the bear which was thought to have been the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.
Old (ole) Bill, stuffed cotton rag doll with pink face, painted features and black moustache. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/ | Publisher: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Rights holder: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Subjects: | Childhood Dolls and Toy Soldiers Toys Social history Costume dolls First World War (1914-1918) | Temporal: | 20th century (1900-1999) | Source: | Black Country History | Creator: | J K Farnell and Co | Identifier: | http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/colle... | Go to resource |
|
|