Savile
Lumley
was a popular
book illustrator and poster designer. He also provided the drawings
for several magazines and comics including The
Boy's Own Paper, The Champion
Annual, Chatterbox
and Little Folks.
During the First World War he designed the famous
poster, Daddy, what did you do in the Great
War? Books illustrated by Lumley included A
Disputed Heritage (1911), Chappie
and Others (1926) and The Black
Arrow (1949). Savile Lumley died
in 1950.
Savile Lumley, Daddy, what did
you do in the Great War?
(1)
After the war, Paul Gunn explained the background to the design of
Daddy, what did you do in
the Great War?
One night my father came home very worried about the war situation
and discussed with my mother whether he should volunteer. He happened
to come in to where I was asleep and quite casually said to my mother,
"If I don't join the forces whatever will I say to Paul if he
turns round to me and says, "What did you do in the Great War,
Daddy?" He suddenly turned round to my mother and said that would
make a marvellous slogan for a recruiting poster. He shot off to see
one of his pet artists, Savile Lumley, had a sketch drawn straight
away, based on the theme projected about five years hence, although
by the time it had taken shape the questioner had become one of my
sisters. To end the story on a nice note, he joined the Westminster
Volunteers a few days later!
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