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{{short description|British cartoonist}}
{{for|other meanings|Fougasse}}
{{other uses|Fougasse (disambiguation)}}
'''Cyril Kenneth Bird''', [[pen name]] '''Fougasse''' (17 December 1887, [[London]] - 11 June 1965, [[London]]) was a British [[cartoonist]] best known for his editorship of ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' magazine and his iconic [[World War II]] warning [[propaganda]] posters.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:INF3-200 Salvage Rubber helps to make tyres Artist Fougasse.jpg|thumb|right|World War II propaganda poster by Fougasse]]
'''Cyril Kenneth Bird''' [[CBE]] (17 December 1887 – 11 June 1965), known by the [[pen name]] '''Fougasse,''' was a British [[cartoonist]].


He was perhaps best known for his work in ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' magazine (of which he served as editor from 1949 to 1953) and his [[World War II]] warning [[propaganda]] posters; "Careless talk costs lives" was one of the most popular. He also designed many posters for the [[London Underground]].
⚫
The son of Arthur Bird, a company director, he was educated at [[Cheltenham College]] and [[King's College London]] (B.Sc). While at King's College he attended evening art classes at the [[Regent Street Polytechnic]] and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court. On 16 Sep 1914 he married Mary Holden Caldwell.<ref>[[The Times]] 18 Sep 1914 page 1 col A</ref>


==Early life==
⚫
He was seriously injured at the [[Battle of Gallipoli]] during [[World War I]] and invalided out of the British Army (his pen name is based on the [[fougasse (weapon)|fougasse]], a type of mine). He first contributed to ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including ''[[the Graphic]]'' and ''[[Tatler]]''. In the course of the 1920s and 1930s, his drawings evolved from the traditionally representational to an innovative, spare, style that was both unique and popular, featuring in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He became art [[editing|editor]] of ''Punch'' from 1937 to 1949, then editor until 1953. He was the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine. During [[World War II]], he worked for free for the [[Ministry of Information]], designing humorous but effective [[propaganda]] [[poster]]s including the famous "[[Careless Talk Costs Lives (propaganda)|Careless Talk Costs Lives]]" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in 1946.
⚫
Bird was born in [[London]] on 17 December 1887, the son of Arthur Bird, a company director. He was educated at [[Cheltenham College]] and [[King's College London]] (B.Sc.). While at King's College he attended evening art classes at the [[Regent Street Polytechnic]] and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.


He was seriously injured at the [[Battle of Gallipoli]] during [[World War I]] and invalided out of the British Army.
⚫
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with [[Donald McCullough|W. D. H. McCullough]]. These included the very successful ''Aces Made Easy – or [[Pons asinorum]] in a nutshell'', on the subject of [[contract bridge]], in 1934, and ''You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road'', in 1935.


==Career==
⚫
Since 2009 his cartoon of a butler carrying a tray has been used to illustrate the front page of British Airways' First Class menus, continuing an association with the airline which goes back to the 1930's when Fougasse penned advertising posters for BA's forerunner, Imperial Airways.
Bird first contributed to ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'' in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including ''[[the Graphic]]'' and ''[[Tatler (1901)|Tatler]]''. His pen name was based on the [[fougasse (weapon)|fougasse]], a type of mine.

As one of the best known cartoonists of the time, he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for [[Queen Mary's Dolls' House]]; his illustrated verse tale, written on postage stamp-sized pages, was published as a regular-sized hardback in 2012 by the Royal Collection and [[Walker Books]].<ref>Alison Flood, [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/18/miniature-fairytale-royal-dolls-house "Miniature fairytale for royal dolls' house to be published full size"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 April 2012.</ref>

⚫
In the course of the 1920s and 1930s, his drawings evolved from the traditionally representational to an innovative, spare, style that was both unique and popular, featuring in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He became art [[editing|editor]] of ''Punch'' from 1937 to 1949, then editor<ref>Michael Maslin, [http://michaelmaslin.com/index.php?page=nyer-cartoonists-a-z New Yorker Cartoonists, A-Z] Retrieved October 10, 2014</ref> until 1953. He was the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine. During [[World War II]], he worked unpaid for the [[Ministry of Information (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Information]], designing humorous but effective [[propaganda]] [[poster]]s including the famous "[[Careless Talk Costs Lives (propaganda)|Careless Talk Costs Lives]]" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in 1946. In 1951 he was elected as Master of the [[Art Workers' Guild]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HtocAQAAMAAJ&q=%22+Kenneth+Bird%22+art+workers+guild|title=Artists' Guide|date=1951|page=63}}</ref>

⚫
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with [[Donald McCullough (broadcaster)|W. D. H. McCullough]]. These included the very successful ''Aces Made Easy – or [[Pons asinorum]] in a nutshell'', on the subject of [[contract bridge]], in 1934,<ref>{{cite book |title=Aces Made Easy |first1=W. D. H. |last1=McCullough |last2=Fougasse |year=1934 |publisher=[[Methuen & Co. Ltd.]] |location=London }}</ref> and ''You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road'', in 1935.<ref>{{cite book |title=You Have Been Warned |last1=McCullough |last2=Fougasse |year=1935 |publisher=Methuen & Co. Ltd. |location=London }}</ref>

In the mid-1950s, he taught at the [[Christian Science]] Sunday School in the [[Sloane Square]] church, which has since been converted into the [[Cadogan Hall]] concert hall.<ref>[https://jpaulm.github.io/index.html John Paul Morrison Biography]</ref> He died in London, aged 77.

==Legacy==
⚫
Since 2009 his cartoon of a butler carrying a tray has been used to illustrate the front page of [[British Airways]]' First Class menus, continuing an association with the airline which goes back to the 1930s when Fougasse penned advertising posters for BA's forerunner, [[Imperial Airways]].

==Personal life==
Bird married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914.<ref>''[[The Times]]'', 18 Sept 1914, p. 1.</ref>


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

Obituary [[The Times]] 14 June 1965 page 12 col E
==Further reading==
* {{cite news |title=Mr C. K. Bird: 'Fougasse' of Punch [Obituary] |newspaper=The Times |date=14 June 1965 |page=12 }}
* {{ODNBweb |first=Peter |last=Mellini |title=Bird, (Cyril) Kenneth [''pseud''. Fougasse] (1887–1965) |year=2004 |edition=online |id=31893 }}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=James |title=Careless Talk Costs Lives: Fougasse and the art of public information |publisher=Conway |place=London |year=2010 |isbn=9781844861293 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Fougasse (cartoonist)}}
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/artists/fougasse.htm UK National Archives: The Art of War: Fougasse]
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/artists/fougasse.htm UK National Archives: The Art of War: Fougasse]
* [http://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fougasse.htm Lambiek "Comiclopedia": Fougasse]
* [http://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fougasse.htm Lambiek "Comiclopedia": Fougasse]
* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTbird.htm Spartacus: Fougasse]
* [http://www.spartacus-educational.com/ARTbird.htm Spartacus: Fougasse]
*[http://heidicon.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/pool/punch/person/123079179 Fougasse*s Punch Illustrations] in HeidICON
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Fougasse}}
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[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I|Fougasse (Kenneth Bird)]]
[[Category:People educated at Cheltenham College|Bird, Kenneth]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Fellows of King's College London]]
[[Category:English cartoonists]]
[[Category:English cartoonists]]
[[Category:Punch (magazine) cartoonists]]

[[Category:The New Yorker cartoonists]]
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[[Category:Masters of the Art Worker's Guild]]
[[pt:Fougasse]]

Latest revision as of 15:10, 17 February 2023

For other uses, see Fougasse (disambiguation).

World War II propaganda poster by Fougasse

Cyril Kenneth Bird CBE (17 December 1887 – 11 June 1965), known by the pen name Fougasse, was a British cartoonist.

He was perhaps best known for his work in Punch magazine (of which he served as editor from 1949 to 1953) and his World War II warning propaganda posters; "Careless talk costs lives" was one of the most popular. He also designed many posters for the London Underground.

Early life

[edit]

Bird was born in London on 17 December 1887, the son of Arthur Bird, a company director. He was educated at Cheltenham College and King's College London (B.Sc.). While at King's College he attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.

He was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I and invalided out of the British Army.

Career

[edit]

Bird first contributed to Punch in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the Graphic and Tatler. His pen name was based on the fougasse, a type of mine.

As one of the best known cartoonists of the time, he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for Queen Mary's Dolls' House; his illustrated verse tale, written on postage stamp-sized pages, was published as a regular-sized hardback in 2012 by the Royal Collection and Walker Books.[1]

In the course of the 1920s and 1930s, his drawings evolved from the traditionally representational to an innovative, spare, style that was both unique and popular, featuring in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He became art editor of Punch from 1937 to 1949, then editor[2] until 1953. He was the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine. During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. In 1951 he was elected as Master of the Art Workers' Guild.[3]

He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with W. D. H. McCullough. These included the very successful Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorum in a nutshell, on the subject of contract bridge, in 1934,[4] and You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road, in 1935.[5]

In the mid-1950s, he taught at the Christian Science Sunday School in the Sloane Square church, which has since been converted into the Cadogan Hall concert hall.[6] He died in London, aged 77.

Legacy

[edit]

Since 2009 his cartoon of a butler carrying a tray has been used to illustrate the front page of British Airways' First Class menus, continuing an association with the airline which goes back to the 1930s when Fougasse penned advertising posters for BA's forerunner, Imperial Airways.

Personal life

[edit]

Bird married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Alison Flood, "Miniature fairytale for royal dolls' house to be published full size", The Guardian, 18 April 2012.
  2. ^ Michael Maslin, New Yorker Cartoonists, A-Z Retrieved October 10, 2014
  3. ^ Artists' Guide. 1951. p. 63.
  4. ^ McCullough, W. D. H.; Fougasse (1934). Aces Made Easy. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd.
  5. ^ McCullough; Fougasse (1935). You Have Been Warned. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd.
  6. ^ John Paul Morrison Biography
  7. ^ The Times, 18 Sept 1914, p. 1.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fougasse (cartoonist).
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