Tommies Collection

A Miner Success by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon
" They must ave ad some good news or somethin, Alf; you can ear em cheerin quite plain." Two British Tommies, Bill and Alf

Advert for Horlicks ration of malted milk tablets 1916
Restoring energy and vitality Horlicks malted milk compressed tablets, supplied in a air tight tin. 1916

Wrights Coal Tar Soap advertisement, WW1
Lucky Beggar!...Send a bar to YOUR soldier friend. Advertisement for Wrights coal tar soap with a soldier the envy of all his comrades as he is enjoying a wash with a whole bar sent to him from home

Periscope and All by Gerald C. Hudson, WW1
Humorous cartoon depicting the grimness of life in the trenches. THOMAS (encountering a pal on the surface of a flooded crater): Lor! Enry, ow you did make me jump. I thought you was a submarine

Tattoo-artist, George Burchett, at work on a Tommy
A tattoo artist, George Burchett, in his shop near Waterloo station working on the forearm of a soldier, while a lady who has just received a tattoo of her own, admires his handiwork

Where Did That One Go To? by Bruce Bairnsfather
The very first cartoon published in The Bystander by Bruce Bairnsfather (later Captain) of the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

British soldier bears to the firing line WWI
Double page showing a British private soldier, commonly know as a Tommy, showing a diagram of tools and equipment that he would have carried when marching to the trenches in World War One. 1915

Salutes Assorted by Alfred Leete
Humorous caricatures of various Army types showing the assorted styles of salutes used. Date: 1918

British troops resting after six days fighting, 1944
A group of jocular British soldiers take a rest after six days spent attacking the strongly defended German positions on Mounts Camino and Maggiore, fighting through thick mud and unceasing rain

Twenty-eight days furlough by Alfred Leete
A British soldier waits patiently, along with many others at a dispersal station as he goes through the process of demobilisation at the end of the First World War. Date: 1919

British Tommies Welcomed
A British tommy is given a warm welcome by civilian French women

British soldier in uniform, 1915, WW1
A British private soldier, commonly known as a Tommy with annotations showing the tools and equipment that made up his kit when marching to the trenches during the First World War

WW1 Gallipoli British soldiers preparing to evacuate

Harrogate - Volunteers Battalion Camp - Lieutenant Harries-Jones - Victorian period

Harrogate - Volunteers Battalion Camp - Victorian period

General John French

11th Hussars Victorian period

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders Victorian period

British Army Camp Victorian period

British Army Camp - barber - Victorian period

Royal Scots Fusiliers Victorian period

Highland Light Infantry Victorian period

Coldstream Guards Victorian period

Sergeant Major in the 2nd Dragoon Guards Victorian period

Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Review at Aldershot - Volunteers - Victorian period

38th Gharwal Rifles Victorian period

2nd Prince of Wales Own Gurkha Regiment - The Sirmoor Rifles - Victorian period

Royal Scots Guards Victorian period

6th Dragoon Guards - Review Order - Victorian period

Commissariat and Transport Corps Victorian period

General Allenby leaving Damascus during WW1

General Allenby leaving Church in Bethlehem during WW1

Australian troops watering their horses during WW1

Crossing the Ladder of Tyre on the way to Beirut during WW1

British Sergeant Artillery planning in a trench during WW1

German Infantry in a trench during WW1

British Munitions factory during WW1

Over the top - trench warfare during WW1

British troops at Mouslimie Station in Syria during WW1

London Scottish Regiment marching through Es Salt during WW1

A Divisional Horse Transport Pack during WW1

General Allenby during WW1

British biplane dropping a torpedo during WW1

William Reefe Robinson VC RFC during WW1

Belgian family begging in front of their burnt-out home during WW1

The Triple Entente during WW1

Moving Artillery Guns by Raft during WW1 Date: circa 1916

Machine Gun Corps training during WW1 Date: circa 1916

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"Tommies: The Unsung Heroes of World War I" In the midst of the chaos and devastation of World War I, a group emerged as symbols of resilience and determination - the Tommies. These brave British soldiers became an integral part of history, leaving behind a legacy that would be remembered for generations to come. The iconic cartoon "A Miner Success" by Bruce Bairnsfather captured the spirit of these men. Through his witty illustrations, he depicted their unwavering courage in the face of adversity. Their indomitable spirit was further immortalized in advertisements like Wrights Coal Tar Soap and Horlicks ration of malted milk tablets from 1916, showcasing how even amidst war, personal hygiene and nutrition were not forgotten. Gerald C. Hudson's poignant work "Periscope and All" shed light on the realities faced by these soldiers in trenches. It revealed their constant vigilance while highlighting their ability to find solace in small moments amidst unimaginable circumstances. One such moment was captured by George Burchett, a tattoo artist who etched permanent reminders onto Tommy's skin – symbols that represented hope or remembrance during those dark times. Meanwhile, Bruce Bairnsfather's illustration titled "Where Did That One Go To?" portrayed the camaraderie shared among soldiers as they navigated through treacherous battlefields together. As Alfred Leete showcased in his artwork "Salutes Assorted, " respect and honor were deeply ingrained within these troops' DNA. They stood tall with pride as they marched towards danger, embodying bravery at its finest. Fast forward to 1944 when British troops found respite after six days fighting; their exhausted bodies sought rest but never lost sight of their mission. This image served as a testament to their endurance and perseverance throughout countless battles. Alfred Leete's masterpiece "Twenty-eight days furlough" encapsulated what every Tommy yearned for – a brief respite from the horrors of war.