| Place | Oceania: New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART96694 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 17 x 20.2 cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | pen and ink and watercolour wash on tracing paper |
| Maker |
Pidgeon, William Edwin (WEP) |
| Place made | New Guinea |
| Date made | January 1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
Cheer up boys, only 3000 miles before dinner !
Description
Depicts a caricature of the artist and war correspondent, William Pidgeon, on a plane, talking to two other war correspondents, Eddie Dunstan and Jack Hickson, who are green with hunger. This drawing accompanied an illustrated letter by Pidgeon, dated 21 January 1944. William Edwin Pidgeon (1909-1981), known as 'WEP' was a war correspondent, painter, cartoonist and illustrator. During the Second World War many of his illustrations were published in the 'Australian Women's Weekly', which made him famous nationally. His works richly convey the lives and personalities of Australian troops and their experiences in Darwin (1943-44), New Guinea (Jan-Feb 1944) and Borneo and Morotai (Jan-Aug 1945). This work is one of over 400 items by WEP donated to the Memorial consisting of illustrated letters, paintings, sketches, drawings, photographs and ephemeral material related to his time as a war correspondent.
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Peter and Elizabeth Pidgeon in memory of William Edwin Pidgeon 2014