WWII British POW made Two Types Cut out Figures – Item 97451

Interesting POW made wooden cut out stylised figures of two British Army Officers. Inspired by the cartoonist William John Philpin Jones. Features moustaches and polka dot scarves. 21cm in height x 20cm. These wooden figures were made by German POWs so they could be swopped with their British guards for luxury goods, cigarettes, soap etc. Good overall condition with only small repair to base.

Note: Evacuated to North Africa with shell-shock – “a nervous wreck, shaking like a jelly” – Jones started drawing cartoons of a pair of battle-hardened British officers. They wore a bizarre mixture of military and non-military clothes, but he recalled that “a lot of 8th Army officers dressed like that”.  Jones sent some of these cartoons over the signature “JON.” They were accepted, and the officers made their first appearance in the Eighth Army News in July 1944 under the title “Page Two Smile.” By August 1944 they were appearing as “The Two Types,” and the name stuck.