WW1 mag

[JustSia]

Ian Hislop of "Private Eye" once mentioned a newsletter that was printed for soldiers during the WW1, which was of a similar format as the Private Eye. It normally contained jokes and such to keep their spirits up. Does anyone know what it was called?

S.

[CompNut]

Hi, JustSia,
I think the mag. you mentioned was probably "Blighty" magazine, which was issued by the war office and free to the soldiers fighting at the front. It contained humor, cartoons and pin ups. The mag was also sold to the public but it was difficult to get hold of as it was popular and there was a paper shortage too, so all mags were hard to get.
It continued in similar form till 1955 and around then was merged into "Parade" , a pin up and humorous mag.

All good wishes,
CompNut

[JustSia]

Thanks CompNut, I will check it out, but I think it was something else. Something on a much smaller scale. I know if I hear the name I will recognise it, which is why I am not sure it was "Blighty". I think the name had 2 words in it. Then again I might be wrong so need to do my research on "Blighty" then.

Thank you so much and all the best to you too.

Sia.

[gary baldy]

Was it John Bull?
That was published at the time but wasnt specifically for soldiers. It was very similiar in tone to Private Eye though.

[JustSia]

I just found it, wahey!!!

It was called the Wipers Times. There was another one also called Punch hence the Private Eye comparison.

Thank you both. I wouldn't have found it without your help.

S.

[CompNut]

Hi again Sia,

Thanks for replying. Good for you finding it and I must ask, How did you find out the name of the Wipers Times, please? (I'm always interested in hearing about new websites.) Or did you e-mail Ian Hislop at Private Eye?

(The name of the 'Wipers Times' sounds as if it was taken from the name of the French town of Ypres, a battleground in the First World War and which our British 'Tommies' (soldiers) pronounced 'Wipers'. )

Did you discover whether the soldiers produced the paper themselves, drawing the cartoons, and makiing humorous jokes for it, or was it a regular printed paper?

One other question, (I'm being nosey) are you writing an essay on Communications in Wartime or something for a college project?

Good luck with all your endeavours,

and T.T.F.N (Ta-Ta For Now) !

CompNut

[JustSia]

Hi CompNut (gosh, it feels so weird calling people in here by their screen nicks, no matter how great they are;0).

This is the site I found and it will answer most of your questions re the paper. http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/satirical.htm

I found it through your suggestions. Just picking up clues and running the words through the search engine. Didn't take long and I was surprised to have found such a detailed information on them so quickly, which makes me feel a bit guilty for asking in the first hand.

You will see the reference to Ypres in the article, but I personally thought it to mean something else. I know it sounds silly and please don't laugh, but you know trenches, soldiers, lack of paper and its most obvious use apart from roll-ups.

No I didn't need it for a project or anything, just a simple curiosity. I remember Ian Hislop talking about it and he was so animated and completely fascinated by the subject I promised to find out more about it but have only just got around to it now.

Anyways, thank you very much once again and look forward to seeing you more around here.

Take Care.

S.

PS, excuse my mistakes, English is my second language, which I should really take time to study properly.

[CompNut]

Thanks, Sia, for letting me know the website, I have noted it for future reference.

If English is your second language, well, you are EXCELLENT at using it. You put we Brits to shame, as many of us don't bother to keep up the French or other language we began to learn at school, and when we go abroad everyone in other countries speaks English perfectly, so we continue being lazy over languages.
However, as we go to Spain frequently I am starting to learn a little Spanish, so hope to amend my laziness.

Adios, and good luck,
CompNut