A series of World War 2 cartoons that may have helped inspire British sitcom Dad’s Army have surfaced. The cartoons are part of a pamphlet published in 1945 about the Home Guard and featuring a bumbling group of ill-equipped soldiers. Writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft started to write the TV show – a classic – in 1968.
The artist, who remains a mystery despite the signature ‘Plum’ or ‘Plumley’, may also have been inspired himself by Bruce Bairnsfather‘s famous World War 1 cartoon “Well, if you knows of a better ‘ole, go to it.” for one of his creations shown above.
The pamphlet, Home Guard Humour was discovered by Campbell McCutcheon at a postcard fair and is being republished by Amberley Publishing.