Mr. Punch's History of the Great War (WWI Centenary Series)

By Charles L. Graves

This early work by Charles L. Graves was originally published in 1919 and we are now republishing it as part of our WWI Centenary Series. 'Mr. Punch's History of the Great War' is a classic work of intelligent and witty satire. It is complete with wonderful cartoon illustrations and tells the story of Mr. Punch's exploits during the Great War. This is perfect for anyone with a love of the 'Punch' series. This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Last Post Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473367555

Book preview

Mr. PUNCH’S HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR

BY

Charles L. Graves

PEACE—THE SOWER

Copyright © 2016 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Contents

Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

In Flanders Fields

To The Reader

Prologue

September, 1914.

October, 1914.

November, 1914.

December, 1914.

January, 1915.

February, 1915.

March, 1915.

April, 1915.

May, 1915.

June, 1915.

July, 1915.

August, 1915.

September, 1915.

October, 1915.

November, 1915.

December, 1915

January, 1916.

February, 1916.

March, 1916.

April, 1916.

May, 1916.

June, 1916.

July, 1916.

August, 1916.

September, 1916.

October, 1916.

November, 1916.

December, 1916.

January, 1917.

February, 1917.

March, 1917.

April, 1917.

May, 1917.

June, 1917.

July, 1917.

August, 1917.

September, 1917.

October, 1917.

November, 1917.

December, 1917.

January, 1918.

February, 1918.

March, 1918.

April, 1918.

May, 1918.

June, 1918.

July, 1918.

August, 1918.

September, 1918.

October, 1918.

November, 1918.

Epilogue

Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

The First World War was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than nine million combatants were killed, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication – and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world’s great economic powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilised.

The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, June 28th 1914. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, and international alliances were invoked. Within weeks, the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers; the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires—ceased to exist. The map of Europe was redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created. On peace, the League of Nations formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such an appalling conflict, encouraging cooperation and communication between the newly autonomous nation states. This laudatory pursuit failed spectacularly with the advent of the Second World War however, with new European nationalism and the rise of fascism paving the way for the next global crisis.

This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world’s bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history.

Amelia Carruthers

A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

British soldiers at chow in the trenches

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

John McCrae, May 1915

"The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation—the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honour, Duty, Patriotism, and, clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven."

David Lloyd George (1863–1945), British Liberal politician, Prime Minister. Speech, Sept. 19, 1914, Queen’s Hall, London. Quoted in Times (London, Sept. 20, 1914).

TO THE READER

For whatsoever worth or wit appears

In this mixed record of five hectic years,

This tale of heroes, heroines—and others—

Thank first O. S. and then his band of brothers

Who took their cue, with pencil and with pen,

From the gay courage of our fighting men.

Theirs be the praise, not his, who here supplies

Merely the editorial hooks and eyes

And, rich by proxy, prodigally spends

The largess of his colleagues and his friends.

C. L. G.

PROLOGUE

Though a lover of peace, Mr. Punch from his earliest days has not been unfamiliar with war. He was born during the Afghan campaign; in his youth England fought side by side with the French in the Crimea; he saw the old Queen bestow the first Victoria Crosses in 1857; he was moved and stirred by the horrors and heroisms of the Indian Mutiny. A little later on, when our relations with France were strained by the Imperialism of Louis Napoleon, he had witnessed the rise of the volunteer movement and made merry with the activities of the citizen soldier of Brook Green. Later on again he had watched, not without grave misgiving, the growth of the great Prussian war machine which crushed Denmark, overthrew Austria, and having isolated France, overwhelmed her heroic resistance by superior numbers and science, and stripped her of Alsace-Lorraine.

In May, 1864, Mr. Punch presented the King of Prussia with the Order of St. Gibbet for his treatment of Denmark.

In August of the same year he portrayed the brigands dividing the spoil and Prussia grabbing the lion’s share, thus foreshadowing the inevitable conflict with Austria.

In the war of 1870-1 he showed France on her knees but defying the new Caesar, and arraigned Bismarck before the altar of Justice for demanding exorbitant securities.

And in 1873, when the German occupation was ended by the payment of the indemnity, in a flash of prophetic vision Mr. Punch pictured France, vanquished but unsubdued, bidding her conqueror Au revoir.

GAUL TO THE NEW CÆSAR

Defiance, Emperor, while I have strength to hurl it! (Dec. 17, 1870)

More than forty years followed, years of peace and prosperity for Great Britain, only broken by the South African war, the wounds of which were healed by a generous settlement. But all the time Germany was preparing for The Day, steadily perfecting her war machine, enlarging her armies, creating a great fleet, and piling up colossal supplies of guns and munitions, while her professors and historians, harnessed to the car of militarism, inflamed the people against England as the jealous enemy of Germany’s legitimate expansion. Abroad, like a great octopus, she was fastening the tentacles of permeation and penetration in every corner of the globe, honeycombing Russia and Belgium, France, England and America with secret agents, spying and intriguing and abusing our hospitality. For twenty-five years the Kaiser was our frequent and honoured, if somewhat embarrassing, guest, professing friendship for England and admiration of her ways, shooting at Sandringham, competing at Cowes, sending telegrams of congratulation to the University boat-race winners, ingratiating himself with all he met by his social gifts, his vivacious conversation, his prodigious versatility and energy.

THE REWARD OF (DE)MERIT

King Punch presenteth Prussia with the Order of St. Gibbet.

(May 7, 1864)

Mr. Punch was no enemy of Germany. He remembered—none better—the debt we owe to her learning and her art; to Bach and Beethoven, to Handel, the dear Saxon who adopted our citizenship; to Mendelssohn, who regarded England as his second home; to her fairy tales and folk-lore; to the Brothers Grimm and the Struwwelpeter; to the old kindly Germany which has been driven mad by War Lords and Pan-Germans. If Mr. Punch’s awakening was gradual he at least recognised the dangerous elements in the Kaiser’s character as far back as October, 1888, when he underlined Bismarck’s warning against Caesarism. In March, 1890, appeared Tenniel’s famous cartoon Dropping the Pilot; in May of the same year the Kaiser appears as the Enfant Terrible of Europe, rocking the boat and alarming his fellow-rulers. In January, 1892, he is the Imperial Jack-in-the-Box with a finger in every pie; in March, 1892, the modern Alexander, who

Assumes the God,

Affects to nod,

And seems to shake the spheres;

though unfortunately never nodding in the way that Homer did. (This cartoon, by the way, caused Punch to be excluded for a while from the Imperial Palace.)

In February, 1896, Mr. Punch drew the Kaiser as Fidgety Will. In January, 1897, he was the Imperial actor-manager casting himself for a leading part in Un Voyage en Chine; in October of the same year he was Cook’s Crusader, sympathising with the Turk at the time of the Cretan ultimatum; and in April, 1903, the famous visit to Tangier suggested the Moor of Potsdam wooing Morocco to the strains of

Unter den Linden—always at Home,

Under the Limelight, wherever I roam.

AU REVOIR!

GERMANY: Farewell, Madam, and if—

FRANCE: Ha! We shall meet again!

(Sept. 27, 1873.)

In 1905 the Kaiser was The Sower of Tares, the enemy of Europe.

In 1910 he was Teutonising and Prussifying Turkey; in 1911 discovering to his discomfort that the Triple Entente was a solid fact.

And in September, 1913, he was shown as unable to dissemble his disappointment at the defeat of the German-trained Turkish army by the Balkan League.