Cyril Kenneth Bird

December 17, 1887 (age 77)

London, Greater London, United Kingdom

He also designed many posters for the London Underground. 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, a type of mine). He first contributed to Punch in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the Graphic and Tatler. 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. 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 until 1953. He was the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine. During World 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. Foreign this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with West. Doctorate. 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. He died in London, aged 77. 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 Bachelor"s forerunner, Imperial Airways.

Cyril Kenneth Bird

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cartoonist editor

Background

The son of Arthur Bird, a company director, he was born in London and educated at Cheltenham College and King"s College London (Bachelor of Science).

Education

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.

Career

He also designed many posters for the London Underground. 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, a type of mine). He first contributed to Punch in 1916, while convalescing, and also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the Graphic and Tatler.

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. 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 until 1953. He was the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine.

During World 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.

Foreign this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with West. Doctorate. 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.

He died in London, aged 77.

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 Bachelor"s forerunner, Imperial Airways.

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Cyril Kenneth Bird

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