Old Bill Commemorative Side Plate – Item 80855

WWI Bruce Bairnsfather’s Old Bill cartoon commemorative side plate. Measures approx. 20 cm in diameter. Glazed with commemorative picture of old bill in trench with shells exploding above and humorous motto “Well if you know a better ole go to is”. Nice condition with no damage and Stoke on Trent makers mark to reverse.

Note: In 1914 he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a second lieutenant and served with a machine gun unit in France until 1915, when he was hospitalised with shellshock and hearing damage sustained during the Second Battle of Ypres. Posted to the 34th Division headquarters on Salisbury Plain, he developed his humorous series for the Bystander about life in the trenches, featuring “Old Bill”, a curmudgeonly soldier with trademark walrus moustache and balaclava.