New Zealand Memories Issue 157

FEATURE
Alexander, was killed in action on the Somme, 15 September 1916, also a member of the Otago Regiment.
George’s youngest brother, Robert, was just too young for active service. George was also wounded in June
1918, but fully recovered.
George left for the war as a member of the 8th Reinforcements in late 1915, a short stop in Egypt and then
to France as a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He returned to New Zealand and made his mark as a
cartoonist in New Zealand and Australian publications.
The Challenges of Cartoonists at War.
As shown in the previous cartoon set (on page 39), this cartoonist did persevere with his cartooning under
what would have been very varied and challenging circumstances through years of war. Although he clearly
abandoned his short-lived pursuit of a History of the Great War, he did, however, leave a valuable record of war
in his distinctive style.
The Western Front: Making the Best of it!
The artist’s reintroduction to France was the same as many of New
Zealand’s soldiers, via the camp at Etaples, in Picardy. Then on to
the Somme. The New Zealanders became well known, maybe even
notorious, to the French for a variety of reasons. The cartoonist was
certain the French would remember the New Zealanders long after
the war had ended.
In fact he goes on to provide a design for a proposed monument (at
right) to the New Zealanders to be erected in Picardy.
(‘Onward N.Z.’, as noted on the plinth of the proposed monument,
were the words on the New Zealand Expeditionary Force badge worn
on New Zealand uniforms.)
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