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.)

8 The Hospital Blues

The consequence of war could soon be seen everywhere in the streets of Britain. Hundreds of wounded soldiers in hospital blue suits with large turn ups, white shirts and red ties, swathed in white bandages, on crutches, in wheelchairs with limbs missing or staring vacantly into space with blind eyes. They could be found crowded onto the sea fronts of our holiday resorts where they were convalescing. Wounded servicemen had the freedom of every town in the country and they were treated as heroes with sympathy and compassion, particularly if they were covered in bandages. But those badly disfigured, blinded or gassed often got scant attention with many an averted eye. Most bore their injuries with fortitude but behind the brave facade there was pain and sleepless nights of nightmares and fear. There were some very poignant cards sold in aid of St. Dunstans painted by R. Caton Woodville, but the job of the comic artist was to bring cheer and so it was the lighter more resilient side they depicted - though in McGill's design for 'Comique' series no.2319. 'The hardest case in the hospital," he depicts a patient with a large bandage around his mouth and head who is unable to kiss his sweetheart. McGill returns to the 'Front' joke in "Twelve-Thirty-Eight'series no.1243. Elderly lady: "Poor man! and have you been wounded at the Front?" Soldier: "No ma'am -at the back!"

Tempest's wounded soldiers always get the girl. 'Witty Comic' series no.658 shows a nurse sitting on a soldiers lap. "The Military Cross isn't the only one a fellow can win in this war!" A country lane full of courting couples, all the men are wearing hospital blue. "This isn't Somewhere in France its Anywhere in England!" is the caption to 'Witty Comics' series no.536.

Compare McGill's design on 'Comique'series no.2186, which depicts a wounded soldier in a hospital bed visited by one of those well meaning ladies with a large bunch of flowers; She: "And what are your favourite flowers?" He: "Wild woodbines mum!" to Tempest's design 'Witty' series no.627; a soldier in bed is visited by the medical officer; He: "Has anybody taken your temperature today, my man?" Patient: "I don't know but I missed a packet o' fags first thing this morning!"

Both are good jokes and demonstrate the importance of cigarettes to the serving man, for there were few pleasures at the Front. This was recognised right from the beginning of the war, and Tobacco Funds were set up to send tobacco, cigarettes and matches to the serving men. The artist Bert Thomas made two famous drawings for cards, one 'Arf a mo Kaiser" sold in aid of the Over-Seas Club and the other captioned 'Are we down hearted?" for the Weekly Dispatch Tobacco Fund.

Woodbines were very popular with the men in the trenches, and one army chaplain was known affectionately as "Woodbine Willie", as he always had one to give away.

Lady 'do gooders' only wanted to help but many men could have done without them. When the word went around that some were on their way to visit the wards, those who were mobile made for the recreation room while those who were bed ridden pretended to be asleep.

See also "Coming Home"