Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to grant official recognition to Captain Bruce Bairnsfather for the contribution of his cartoons to the morale of the men on the fighting front, the nation on the home front, and United Kingdom allies in the 1914–18 war.

Captain Bairnsfather’s cartoons played a significant role in maintaining the morale of British troops during the First World War. It is therefore right that his contribution to the war effort is recognised. He is commemorated by the English Heritage Blue Plaque at 1 Sterling Street in Knightsbridge, London. The plaque was erected in 1981 to commemorate the site of one of his old studios. He is also commemorated by plaques at his former home in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Royal British Legion Club in Colwall, near Malvern in Worcestershire. The Ministry of Defence has no further plans to commemorate Captain Bairnsfather’s contribution.