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The Spook Suspected by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon
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The Spook Suspected by Bruce Bairnsfather, WW1 cartoon
Old Bill has always felt that there was something reminiscent of Bert about the way he got that nasty crack over the head from a tambourine at that little bit of a seance they had theother night. Veteran soldier, Old Bill, the creation of Captain Bruce Bairnsfather in his cartoons for The Bystander, takes part in a seance and suspects that one of the mischievous spirits might in fact be his old pal Bert. Date: 1919
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Media ID 14171584
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Bairnsfather Bill Bruce Bystander Contact Mischief Mischievous Seance Spirit Suspected Tambourine Spook
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In the aftermath of the Great War, as soldiers sought solace and healing, the supernatural offered an intriguing distraction. In this cartoon by renowned British satirical artist, Bruce Bairnsfather, titled "The Spook Suspected," we find Old Bill, a veteran soldier and beloved character from Bairnsfather's popular series in The Bystander, participating in a seance with his comrades. The ghostly gathering, held in a dimly lit room, is filled with the anticipation of contacting the otherworldly. Old Bill, however, cannot shake the feeling that one of the mischievous spirits present might just be his old pal Bert, a notorious prankster from their days in the trenches. The image shows Old Bill, with a quizzical expression, as he gazes intently at a tambourine-wielding figure, its ghostly face contorted in a sinister grin. The tambourine, poised to strike, has left Old Bill with a nasty crack on the head, adding fuel to his suspicion. The other soldiers, equally intrigued and amused, look on as the seance continues, their faces a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Bairnsfather's humorous take on the seance scene offers a glimpse into the soldiers' desire for connection, even with the supernatural, in the aftermath of the horrors they had faced during the war. The cartoon, dated 1919, is a testament to the enduring spirit of camaraderie and the mischievous humour that defined the experiences of these brave men during the First World War.
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