Help for Heroes Events

WW1 Cartoonist to raise money for Help for Heroes

29th September this year is the 50th Anniversary of the death of WW1 cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather. In acknowledgement of Bairnsfather's contribution to the morale of our lads in the trenches in WW1 his biographers Tonie and Valmai Holt are publishing with Pen and Sword Books over 150 of his cartoons as 'The Best of Fragments from France'. All of the royalties from the book will go to H4H.

In addition, many of the leading cartoonists of today including Matt Garland, Dave Chisholm, Oliver Preston, Steve Bell, Nicholas Garland, Martin Rowson, Peter Schrank, Steve Brooks and, of course, Bryn Parry, have generously donated their versions of Bairnsfather cartoons to an auction to be held at the London Cartoon Museum on the evening of 29 September and conducted by Bonhams' James Knight.  All monies raised will be donated to H4H. Cartoons can be bid for on-line or at the auction.

The book will be launched on the morning of the 29th September at the Residence in London of the Belgian Ambassador of HM The King of the Belgians Jean-Michel Veranneman de Watervliet, who has written the foreword to the book.

A Selection of the Cartoons Available at Auction:

Cartoon No.6 by Bryn Parry

Bryn joined the Army in 1975 and began to draw cartoons while at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Bryn served in the Royal Green Jackets for nine years, with his paintbrush never far from his hand, before leaving in 1985 to earn a living from his former hobby. Initially his cartoon commissions came from the Army but eventually the business, run with his wife Emma, moved in to the countryside and a range of gift products and books with a country theme followed. In 2007, following a profoundly humbling visit to Selly Oak hospital to visit wounded soldiers, Bryn and Emma decided to ‘just do something’ and launched Help for Heroes to provide support for those wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bryn has always cited Bruce Bairnsfather as his hero and so was delighted to tackle a cartoon in his honour.

Cartoon No.15 by Chris Riddell

Born in South Africa, Chris is the political cartoonist of 'The Observer'. He has also worked on 'The Economist' and written and illustrated many books both by himself and in collaboration with others. Recent works include the 'Ottoline' series which started with 'Ottoline and the Yellow Cat' in 2007.
Chris has won many awards including the Kate Greenaway Medal (twice) and is renowned for his clarity of line which is so evident in this cartoon.

Cartoon No.19 by Ralph Steadman

Ralph Steadman was born in 1936, left school at 16 and did 2 years National Service in the RAF, during which time he did Percy V Bradshaw’s correspondence course in cartooning. By odd coincidence the very first cartoonist that Bradshaw described in his 1944 book ‘They Make us Smile’ was Bruce Bairnsfather. On leaving the RAF, Steadman began his cartooning career with the Kemsley Group of Newspapers and progressed to drawing for The Daily Telegraph, Punch and Private Eye. After some time in America drawing for magazines, Steadman contributed to many publications including The Radio Times, The Independent and New Scientist and for a period specialised in caricaturing politicians which often upset the targets. He has won many awards both in America and in the UK and in 1995 was awarded an Honorary D Litt by the University of Kent.