The Comic Cards of Donald McGill and Douglas Tempest in World War One

Peter Tucker compares these two giants of the comic postcard scene

(Originally published in Picture Postcard Annual 1996)

(Reproduced by kind permission.)

7 Conscription, Conscientious Objectors and New Recruits

In January 1916 under the first Military Service Act, conscription was introduced for all single men between 18 and 41. In May a second Act included married men; now all fit men had to serve unless they were specially exempt. This brought the "slackers" into the net but there were those who objected to war on moral grounds. These became known as conscientious objectors and like the "slackers" they were despised and many went to prison for their beliefs. Those who thought they should be exempt went before a tribunal to put their case, but most failed. A tribunal officer to man standing in the dock with a 'Conscientious Objector' label attached to his collar:
"What is your trade?"
"Pork Butcher!"
"You don't mind killing pigs,then?"
"No"
"Right! Just the man we want."

Tempest follows this card with 'Witty Comics' series no.549 where a man is standing before a tribunal 'All my men have been taken, there's only myself left and I'm carrying on with eight women. .." "Oh!!...appeal dismissed!!"

Although the army had more recruits, they were raw and had little appetite for the fight, so it fell to the sergeant to lick them into shape, a job they seemed to sadistically enjoy. 'K.A.' series no.173 McGill draws a sergeant major shouting with an enormous open mouth, "There are some fine openings in Kitchener's army!". I can just imagine the sergeant's response to the new conscripts retort on 'Comique'series no.2187, "Here, how am I to let this off and put my fingers in my ears at the same time!". Compare this to Tempest's married recruit: Officer: "In the officers' quarters you'll be expected to get up at four, clean out the mess, do as you told, and no back answers!" Recruit: "It's a right gift sir! I've been married twenty years!"

Note the drawing of the officer and the sergeant on these cards; both have been drawn very realistically compared with the recruits who are more caricatured in style.

See also "Joining Up"