Bairnsfather's "The Soldier's Dream"

“The Soldier’s Dream – A ‘Bitter’ disappointment on waking.” 

Postcard by artist Bruce Bairnsfather, “Fragments from France”, Series 6. 

It bears the handwritten message from what is thought to be a New Zealand soldier at Brockenhurst on 19 July 1917: “Dear Myrtle, Here I am back in this hospital again after 8 days in the Convalescent Camp. I expect to get a shift tomorrow either to Hornchurch or Codford. Today has turned out a real scorcher, after heavy rain all yesterday and the night before. Love to all.”

Artist Captain Bruce Bairnsfather served in the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the First World War. During this time he produced a regular cartoon in the highly popular British weekly magazine The Bystander. His artwork was often light-hearted depictions of life at the front line. Bairnsfather is perhaps best remembered for his creation of the lovable and mustachioed ‘Old Bill’ soldier character and for his work printed in the "Fragments from France" magazine.