Alfred Bestall

[Raster Scanning]

Does anyone have a copy of this book?

I am trying to find out what unit Bestall served in during WW1.

074756194X.01.LZZZZZZZ

[Gary Samson]

John, the Observer carried a review of this book on 14 September 2003 that included the following:

Bestall, who grew up in Surbiton, Surrey, was the son of a Methodist missionary and his parents were often absent. His childhood, however, was not unhappy. After school, he studied drawing first in Birmingham, and later at the Central School of Art in London. On leaving college in 1915, he served in the Army's 35th Bantam Division, driving trucks. The war over, he began working for Punch and 'the big shinies' like Tatler.

Gary

[tintin1689]

Although the intrusion of the blacker side of life was rightly absent from the comic strip for many years the november season of remembrance was marked in the unobtrusively respectful way of having Rupert Bear's dad wear a Guards tie.

This was not un-noticed in the Guards Depot and much good natured banter was exchanged as to which Regt he had been in. One day a piece of doggerel was found pinned up in the mess written in the style of the Rupert Bear strip ending up with "but for better or for worser a Coldstream chap was Major Ursa"

I could curse myself for failing to cut out the story I read this in. I don't suppose anyone has a copy? I seem to recall it gently took the proverbial out of the other four regiments.

I had always assumed the author of Rupert Bear was a Guardsman because of this tie thing.