Donald Zec, Don’t lose it again! The life and war-time cartoons of Philip Zec, 2005

Philip Zec is now widely regarded as the most important political cartoonist of World War Two. From 1939 to 1945 he produced 1529 cartoons for the Daily Mirror which caught brilliantly the defiance of the British people at war. Some of his finest drawings are reproduced in these pages. Two cartoons made history: the first, the notorious ‘seaman on the raft’ cartoon was astonishingly misinterpreted in Downing Street and led to a furious debate in Parliament: the second, a moving evocation of the folly of war gives the book its title and marks the sixtieth anniversary of VE Day on 8th of May. Written by the cartoonist’ss brother Donald, the award-wining journalist and author, Don’t Lose It Again hallmarks a unique talent which contributed significantly to the British war effort. This book is probably the most incisive biography of a political cartoonist since Sir David Low’s own autobiography 49 years ago

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Review by Dr Bex Lewis (2005-6)

Philip Zec, designer of the poster ‘Women of Britain, Come Into the Factories‘, did not see himself as a propagandist, rather as an observer, although he was happy for his work to be used as propaganda. His brother Donald, well known as a (film) journalist/ biographer, writes this engaging text, not as a brother, but as one who recognised the importance of Zec’s work.

The commissioning of the book was triggered by Dr Tim Benson’s (Political Cartoon Society) purchase of Zec’s iconic cartoon, published in celebration of VE Day: ‘Victory and Peace In Europe: Don’t Lose it Again’.

Despite the fact that Zec destroyed most of his original images because he didn’t think they were good enough, the book is well illustrated, largely in black and white. The images, most from the Second World War (or shortly before), are clearly contextualised. Both the book and the images present the Second World War through the eyes of gifted observers, with Philip Zec clearly contributing to the ‘mythical memory’ of the Second World War through powerful and memorable images.

An enjoyable, highly illustrated read – the book follows Zec’s beginnings on the edges of Bloomsbury, his training at St Martin’s College of Art, his move into advertising illustration, and his friendships with Strube, Low and the columnist Cassandra on the Daily Mirror. As a socialist and a Jew, Zec had strong political and social awareness – he was drawn into political cartooning as it was evident the country was on the brink of war (he could not stay on the sidelines drawing goods for sale). Soon after the war commenced, Zec produced the first of a series of cartoons for the Daily Mirror, poking fun at the Dictators (putting himself on Hitler’s blacklist). Zec was not a ‘funny’ cartoonist, producing strong messages, unafraid to shock, although he found the realities of the German concentration camps too shocking to convert into cartoons. Zec was loved by ‘the boys’ in the Armed Forces, and raised controversy with Churchill (see pp.74-81). Post-war, he threw his support behind the Labour Party, continuing his work as a political cartoonist until his death in 1983.

Max Arthur, Forgotten Voices of the Second World War: A New History of World War Two in the Words of the Men and Women Who Were There, Ebury Press, 2004

“The Imperial War Museum holds a vast archive of interviews with soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians of most nationalities who saw action during WW2. As in the highly acclaimed “Forgotten Voices of the Great War”, Max Arthur and his team of researchers will spend hundreds of hours digging deep into this unique archive, uncovering tapes, many of which have not been listened to since they were created in the early 1970s. The result will be the first complete aural history of the war. We hear at first from British, German and Commonwealth soldiers and civilians. Accounts of the impact of the U. S. involvement after Pearl Harbour and the major effects that had on the war in Europe and the Far East is chronicled in startling detail, including compelling interviews from U. S. and British troops who fought against the Japanese. Continuing through from D-Day, to the Rhine Crossing and the dropping of the Atom Bomb in August 1945, this book is a unique testimony to one of the world’s most dreadful conflicts. One of the hallmarks of Max Arthur’s work is the way he involves those left behind on the home front as well as those working in factories or essential services. Their voices will not be neglected.”

• Purchase this book: Hardback
• Purchase this book: Paperback (2005)

Opie, R. The Wartime Scrapbook, 1998

Robert Opie maintains an unrivalled collection of advertising and packaging memorabilia, and many of his pieces from the Second World War are showcased in this scrapbook. There’s a little bit of everything in the book: posters, packaging, booklets, gas masks, badges, jars, magazines, etc.

There are little scraps of information dotted around on each page to explain the significance of some of the objects, but largely the objects are left to speak for themselves.

A very colourful book that will delight those who remember the war, and fascinate others! My only criticism would be that in the effort to maintain that ‘scrapbook’ feel very few items are seen complete! But then I suppose you need to go to the museum in Gloucester!

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Freeman, R.A. Britain at War 1990

To describe this book as a ‘scrapbook’ is oversimplifying it rather a lot! There is a lot of good quality text also within this work, although the information is not referenced! The book IS aimed at the younger reader, or those with a general interest, and is well illustrated with many well-known (and not so well known) black and white photographs.

The book deals with life on the Home Front during the Second World War, maintaining a chronological layout as far as possible, but much of the ‘Home Front’ wartime life was ‘ongoing’ and therefore there are thematic chapters devoted to rationing, salvage, to life on the land, entertainment, all the while promoting the ‘Blitz spirit’.

A good book for schools!

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Darracott, J., Loftus, B. Second World War Posters London: HMSO, 1972 (Reprinted 1981)

A well illustrated work that accompanied an exhibition of war posters at the Imperial War Museum. It was edited by Joseph Darracott, the head of the Art Department at the IWM, with many illustrations prefaced by a short introductory piece. Each of the colour poster illustrations, most of which are British (a reflection of the holdings of the IWM, which contains some 20-30,000 British posters) are accompanied by biographical information about the artist, and contextual information about the situation in which the posters were produced.

“Posters are not designed to last, rather, they are intended to catch the mood of the moment and turn it to advantage. … As we look at war posters, we see our modern world reflected.” [p9]

S.F.Ryan: ‘British Perceptions of the Meaning of the War: The Government, the Public and the Fate of France: 1939-42′

S.F.Ryan: ‘British Perceptions of the Meaning of the War: The Government, the Public and the Fate of France: 1939-42′Ryan, S.F., ‘British perceptions of the meaning of the war: the government, the public and the fate of France: 1939-42′
M.Phil completed 1993. Salford University

No abstract available.

Katrina Royall: ‘Posters of the Second World War: The Fourth Arm of Defence?’

Royall, K., ‘Posters of the Second World War: The Fourth Arm of Defence?’
MA Thesis, completed 1991. Westminster University

Poster campaigns from the Second World War are a part of people’s collective memories. Frustrated by the lack of published information on the subject, this project investigates the British posters of the Second World War produced by the Ministry of Information and the response to them.

In 2004 Royall was Course Administrator at the V&A.

P.H. Taylor: ‘The Role of Local Government during the Second World War, with special reference to Lancashire’

Taylor, P.H., ‘The role of local government during the second world war, with special reference to Lancashire.’
Ph.D. completed 1992. Lancaster University

Abstract: This is a thesis concerning the effects of war on society and in particular that of World War Two on Local Government. It employs the idea of `test-dissolution-transformation’, brought about by the conflict, on the workings of the local authorities in a wide field of endeavour. These range from Civil Defence, evacuation and economic mobilisation, through the provision of a range of social services in general and those of education and housing in particular, down to aspects of post-war planning in a variety of areas. There is an emphasis on the geographical area of Lancashire and the differing administrative structure it contained in order to see how authorities in one of the largest areas of the country coped with the impact of war and the nature of their relationships with the central government. What emerges as a result of the war is a pattern of central government desiring to use local authorities as agents for the implementation of their own plans when they felt it necessary, but also a continuation of the semi-autonomous status for local governments as a reult of the essentially practical and useful nature of the local authorities exhibited during the war, and their expected functions in future administration. The thesis is not just one of central-local clashes of interest and power but rather a more complex story of changing inter-relationships not only between the centre and the localities but also within the local authority structures. The thesis raises the whole question of the extent of centripetal and centrifugal forces operating on structures with their own historical underpinnings, perceived roles and expected future developments. In an age with many questions on the issues of democratic accountability, devolved powers and financial responsibility and constraint the role of local government during a period of undoubted stress and uncertainty can give some insights into the factors at play.

G.Sinclair: ‘Propaganda and Churchill in the Second World War: The Making of an Icon’

Wonder if this thesis has been finished yet?

Sinclair, G., ‘Propaganda and Churchill in the Second World War: the Making of an Icon’
PhD Thesis, in progress. University of Kent at Canterbury

Looking at how Churchill was presented to the public in the media and how this image was controlled by party political interests, the government and commercial concerns. Also reassess the public’s opinion of Churchill during the war and how public opinion is used by historians.

K.L.Parker: ‘Women MPs, Feminism and Domestic Policy in the Second World War’

Parker, K.L. ‘Women MPs, Feminism and Domestic Policy in the Second World War’
D.Phil completed, 1994. Oxford University

Abstract: This thesis examines the role of women MPs in framing domestic policy, perceptions of gender roles, and feminism during the Second World War. Revising questions posed by previous studies, it explores how the women MPs defined ‘emancipation’ for women, the terms under which they were willing to advance gender-based claims, and the forces which affected their efforts. It aims to demonstrate that the women MPs helped to shape a feminist political programme which moved beyond a simple claim for equal legal rights. ‘Total war’ provided them with an opportunity to put aside political differences to unite in demanding both that women be included fully in the war effort and that women’s traditional roles be recognised as socially and economically valuable. After an introduction which elaborates these points, Chapter 2 introduces the fourteen women MPs. Chapter 3 traces the formation of the Woman Power Committee and its arguments for women’s full participation in the war effort and for recognition of the rights of mothers and housewives. Chapter 4 investigates the women MP’s role in framing the British welfare state, including their support for family allowances and Beveridge’s ‘housewives’ charter’. Chapters 5 and 6 focus on the position of women MPs and gender-based political claims within the context of the Labour and Conservative parties. Drawing upon parliamentary speeches, government records, party archives and private papers, this study supports the claim advanced by several recent historians that the Second World War did not initiate widespread changes in the status of women.