Colour WW I humourous cartoon postcards manuafactured by G. Savigny, Paris - P.G. "Sketches of Tommy's life" Out on rest - No. 1 ". As you are supposed to be resting in a quiet spot, a litt'e light literature goes well. (Vise Paris 800 / F. Mackain) The cartoon shows two British Soldiers in a dugout. One is reading a book and the other is soking a pipe. On rear in pencil: "K07" Soldiers were expected to be clean shaven, although moustaches were allowed. The toothbrush was universally regarded as the best instrument for cleaning rifles. The soldiers here are enjoying what was commonly known as a “Duck’s Breakfast”. F Mackain and his Sketches of Tommy’s Life Collectors of WWI comic postcards will be familiar with two artists in particular; Bruce Bairnsfather with his Fragments from France postcard series, and F Mackain with his "Sketches of Tommy's Life" by Fergus Mackain While Bairnsfather applied a wickedly dark sense of humour to his illustrations, Mackain offered a much gentler and more observational view of the everyday life of British soldiers in France during the 1914-1918 First World War. Unlike the thoroughly documented Bairnsfather less is known about F E Mackain. Genealogy services suggest that he was Private Fergus H.E. Mackain who served with the Royal Fusiliers. The postcards were published in France by P. Gaultier of Boulogne and G. Savigny of Paris for sale to British soldiers. The publishers locations make a lot of sense, Boulogne being one of the main points of arrival for British troops and Paris being the city to send a postcard home from should opportunity arise. Mackain postcards were issued in four sets of ten; In Training, Up at Base, Up the Line, and Out on Rest. So it’s 40 postcards in total, a very nice series to collect. On the front of each card is recorded the title of the set to which it belongs and its number in that set. Sometimes the caption under the picture is quite long, so in those cases, only the first few words are recorded in this list. In Training ‘ 1) That seems to mean me all right 2) lt's funny how rotten your first uniform looks on you.... 3) Getting your cup of tea in the morning.... 4) First time you got out on the parade ground.... 5) Remember the first rifle, they gave you.... 6) One time just as T thought I was getting good at the game.... 7) lt was quite a trial the first pay parade.... 8) You are a Trained Soldier as soon as.... 9) lt was a thrilling moment that day.... 10) Naturally one writes a good many letters.... At the Base 1) You clean your knife and fork by shoving 'em in the sand.... 2) Crossing the Channel was quite a thrilling thing.... 3) when T got ready to go to bed.... 4) "House" is the most popular game at the Base.... 5) The new soldier at the Base soon learns.... 6) Do you remember the girls who used to follow your.... 7) The first bit of work I did in France.... 8) But we also tried hard to kill our selves.... 9) You might one day put all your stuff.... 10) We left the Base in great style.... Up the Line 1) I got up early in the morning…. 2) The first trench I ever saw…. 3) We marched into the trenches.... 4) The only time I ever saw a man cry…. 5) The main duties in the Front Line in the daytime…. 6) On Sentry Go at night…. 7) One of the bright spots in our life …. 8) Waiting for the barrage to lift…. 9) When you are in one hole and your pal is in another.... 10) Sometimes you get so far in the rear.... Out on Rest 1) A wash up in the rest trenches. 2) As you are supposed to be resting in a quiet spot.... 3) Sometimes when you are out on rest.... 4) "Ain’t it nice to get into a town once more!" 5) A regular carouse of coffee and fried eggs.... 6) It does not take long to fix up.... 7) It looks rather pretty to see a picture of us at dinner.... 8) In every section there is at least one musical genius.... 9) "Dear Dolly: I am at present staying at a farm.... 10) A comfortable bed at last!