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Hero and the girl rehearsing among the ruins, Flanders
Summary
Two men in costume pose for the camera. The man on the left wears a 'Pierrot' clown outfit: a dark suit with a large white ruff. He also sports a bandana and has an eyeglass to his right eye. He appears to be wearing white gloves. We are told in the existing caption that he is the 'hero.' He is looking at the 'girl' with a smile and stands with his right leg bent. He is gesturing with his hands. The 'girl' is actually a man in drag; he wears a dark hat and dress. It looks as though he is wearing a wig. They stand against a backdrop of a ruined building on the Western Front. It is thought that this photograph was taken by John Warwick Brooke...Entertainment groups, or troupes, were seen as extremely important in raising the morale of the soldiers when on rest. Most of the comic plays performed would have a simple structure, with a hero, a heroine, and a villain. It seems as though 'The Jocks' followed this formula...[Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON THE BRITISH WESTERN FRONT IN FRANCE. "THE JOCKS", A SCOTCH ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. The Hero and the Girl rehearsing among the ruins.']..digital.nls.uk/74547294 ( http://digital.nls.uk/74547294 )
World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. World War I Images From National Library of Schotland. These photographs form part of the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928), held by the National Library of Scotland. More information is available from the Library's Digital Archive. Like many World War I generals, Haig remains a controversial figure. The collection contains diaries, papers and photographs from every part of Haig’s career, the Great War diaries being of special importance to historians. Photographs in the "Official Photographs" series (which were destined for publication and have captions on the back describing the image) are in black-and-white. World War I saw the development of a system of 'official’ reporting by professionals especially recruited into the forces. Initially reluctant to allow cameras near the fighting, it took some time for the authorities to appreciate the propaganda and recording potential of photography. These photographs provide us with an invaluable record of how the Government and Military wanted the war perceived. Official photographers were encouraged to record morale-boosting scenes of victory and comradeship. Despite the restrictions placed on them, official war photographers succeeded in giving the most comprehensive visual account of the war. It is important to remember that these images were propaganda; few that could depict the war in a disheartening or disconcerting way passed the censors. As a result the photograph taken was often posed. They were intended to reassure those at home and boost morale. They were printed in newspapers, and were intended to confirm that 'Tommy' was winning the war.
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