CAPTAIN BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER AND HELP FOR HEROES

COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER

the most famous cartoonist of the First World War and creator of Old Bill

A commemorative book of 140 of Bairnsfather's cartoons has been published to raise funds for Help for Heroes

and

AN AUCTION OF 'BAIRNSFATHER-TYPE' CARTOONS DONATED BY THE LEADING CARTOONISTS OF TODAY WAS HELD AT THE CARTOON MUSEUM ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS GOING TO HELP FOR HEROES

Updated 30 September 2009 - just scroll down to learn what happened and how to buy a book in support

 

Captain Bruce Bairnsfather (BB)

Bairnsfather was the most famous cartoonist of The First World War. His cartoons of the soldiers and their life in the trenches made them and the Nation laugh. But because he showed the men and the battlefields as they really were - dirty, generally fed-up and surrounded by the destruction caused by shelling - the Establishment disapproved of his work and he was never formally recognised.

50th ANNIVERSARY

29 September 2009 was the 50th Anniversary of Bairnsfather's death and in homage to him and in support of the charity Help For Heroes Pen and Sword Books has published some 140 of Bairnsfather' cartoons in a reprint of our  Best of Fragments From France and we (Tonie and Valmai Holt) are giving all of our Royalties to the Charity. Therefore as long as the book is in print and selling, Help for Heroes will benefit.


The Best of Fragments from France Help for Heroes Edition

         

Help for Heroes (H4H)

Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 by a group of friends and service relations who wished to do something to help the wounded coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq . People all over the country have done something - run marathons, climbed mountains, ridden bikes, shaved their legs, eaten pies, washed cars, run balls, any number of things as long as they are legal, safe and decent. To date it has raised £17 million.

Our young men and women of the Armed Forces will say that they are not heroes, they will tell you that they are just doing their job. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Some of them will live with the consequences of their service for life. This is almost exactly how Bruce Bairnsfather described his most famous cartoon character - Old Bill.
 

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF THE COMMEMORATION

1. The Book Launch

On 29 September 2009 the book was launched at the Residence of the Belgian Ambassador in London thanks to the support of the Belgian Ambassador of H.M.The King of the Belgians, Jean-Michel Veranneman de Watervliet- Bairnsfather's first cartoons were drawn in Belgium.

Please Buy a Book. See opposite on the right for How to Support Help for Heroes by buying a book

2. A Cartoon Auction of some Highly Collectable Cartoons

       That evening an auction of modern cartoons, some being interpretations of Bairnsfather's drawings, drawn and freely donated by some of today's leading cartoonists , was held at the Cartoon Museum in London thanks to the enthusiastic support of Chairman Oliver Preston and Curator Anita O'Brian. The auctioneer was James Knight, Bonhams' Managing Director of the Motoring Department and a Classic car expert. All proceeds went to Help for Heroes.

      Thus there was an opportunity to obtain drawings by some of today's prominent cartoonists and at the same time donate to one of the most worthwhile of charities that support our servicemen and women - something that would have greatly pleased Captain Bairnsfather.

See opposite on the right for the Auction Result

  

3. A Ceremony at the Bairnsfather plaque in Belgium. See the box opposite on the right.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW

Captain Bruce Bairnsfather

A Picture Story

We would like to thank all those whose made bids online for cartoons. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated. We will be in touch with everyone by e mail on Thursday or Friday.