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Attrition - or the Driver Who Was Tired by H. M. Bateman
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Attrition - or the Driver Who Was Tired by H. M. Bateman
Humorous, sequential cartoon by H. M. Bateman, showing an army driver oblivious to the shell fire that gradually entirely obliterates the truck he is driving on the Western Front. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14146832
© Estate of H M Bateman/ILN/Mary Evans Picture Library
Bateman Damage Damaged Destroyed Destruction Driver Drivers Driving Oblivious Sequential Shell Shells Tired Truck Trucks Vehicles Attrition
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Attrition - Or The Driver Who Was Tired
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is a humorous and poignant sequential cartoon by the renowned British satirical artist, H.M. Bateman, depicting the harsh realities of the Western Front during World War I. The cartoon, created in 1918, shows an army driver seated comfortably in his truck, with a blanket over his legs and a pipe in his hand, seemingly oblivious to the intense shell fire that surrounds him. The truck's windshield is shattered, and the cab is riddled with bullet holes, yet the driver continues to smoke and rest, unperturbed by the destruction happening all around him. The title "Attrition: Or The Driver Who Was Tired" refers to the military strategy of wearing down the enemy through continuous loss of personnel and material, rather than achieving a decisive victory. Bateman's cartoon masterfully captures the absurdity and surreal nature of the war, where soldiers and drivers could be lulled into a false sense of security amidst the chaos and destruction. The cartoon also highlights the monotony and tedium of transport duties on the Western Front, where drivers faced long hours, dangerous conditions, and the constant threat of death or injury. Bateman's use of humor and satire serves to underscore the absurdity of the situation, while also shedding light on the resilience and dark humor that soldiers and drivers relied on to cope with the horrors of war. Overall, "Attrition: Or The Driver Who Was Tired" is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of World War I history, that continues to resonate with audiences today. The cartoon's enduring popularity is a testament to Bateman's skill as a satirist and his ability to capture the human experience of war in all its complexity and contradiction.
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