A Temporary Gentleman by H F Maltby
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A Temporary Gentleman by H F Maltby
Promotional postcard for A Temporary Gentleman by H. F. Maltby. First produced at the Pier Theatre, Brighton, 17th March and Oxford Theatre, 9th June 1919. In August 1914, the officer class in the British army was a small and privileged 鬩 te numbering only 15, 000 men. During the course of the war, a further 235, 000 individuals were given either permanent or, more frequently, temporary commissions. The pressing need for an expanded officer corps enabled men from a wider variety of social and educational backgrounds to become temporary gentlemen. The hero was a middle class junior clerk, who thought wrongly that becoming an officer would get him a job after the war. Date: 1919
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Media ID 14258608
© The Michael Diamond Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Armies Commission Commissioned Gentleman Maltby Panto Pantomime Promotional Temporary Uniforms 1919 Officers Theatrical
A Temporary Gentleman
EDITORS COMMENTS
by H.F. Maltby: A Snapshot of the Social Shift in the British Army during World War I This evocative promotional postcard for H.F. Maltby's play "A Temporary Gentleman," first produced at the Pier Theatre in Brighton and the Oxford Theatre in 1919, offers a glimpse into the social transformation that took place within the British army during World War I. Prior to the war, the officer class in the British army was a small and exclusive group, numbering only 15,000 men. However, as the conflict raged on, the pressing need for an expanded officer corps led to the commissioning of an additional 235,000 individuals, the majority of whom were given temporary commissions. This mass influx of officers from a wider variety of social and educational backgrounds challenged the traditional notion of the British officer as an aristocratic gentleman. The hero of "A Temporary Gentleman" is a middle-class junior clerk who, under the mistaken belief that becoming an officer would secure him a job after the war, enlists in the army. The play explores the experiences and challenges faced by these new, temporary gentlemen as they navigate the complexities of military life and the social hierarchies within the army. The image on this postcard captures the essence of this theatrical production, which offered a popular form of entertainment during the 1910s. The actors, dressed in their uniforms, exude a sense of authority and confidence, while the stage setting suggests the grandeur and spectacle of a pantomime or panto. The play's theatricality, combined with its exploration of the social upheaval brought about by the war, made it a must-see for audiences in the aftermath of the conflict. This postcard is a valuable historical artifact that provides insight into the social and cultural shifts that took place during World War I, as well as the role of theatre in reflecting and shaping public discourse.
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