Bullets & Billets
By: Bruce Bairnsfather
Language: en
Categories: History, Arts, Books, Performing
Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Episodes
032 - Ch 31 Slowly Recovering
Jan 10, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:02:11031 - Ch 30 Rain and Mud
Jan 09, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:15:09030 - Ch 29 Getting Nearer
Jan 08, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:18029 - Ch 28 We March for Ypres
Jan 07, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:10:51028 - Ch 27 Getting Fit
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:09:36027 - Ch 26 A Pleasant Change
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:29026 - Ch 25 Getting Stale
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:55025 - Ch 24 That Ration Fatigue
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:35024 - Ch 23 Our Moated Farm
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:38023 - Ch 22 A Daylight Stalk
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:06:03022 - Ch 21 Back from Leave
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:55021 - Ch 20 That Leave Train
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:11:16020 - Ch 19 Visions of Leave
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:06:05019 - Ch 18 The Painter and the Decorator
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:08:57018 - Ch 17 Wulverghem
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:11:21017 - Ch 16 New Trenches
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:06:18016 - Ch 15 Arrival of the 'Johnsons'
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:22015 - Ch 14 The Amphibians
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:00014 - Ch 13 Robinson Crusoe
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:05:46013 - Ch 12 A Brain Wave
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:09:39012 - Ch 11 Stocktaking
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:09:49011 - Ch 10 My Partial Escape from the Mud
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:26010 - Ch 9 Souvenirs
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:05:46009 - Ch 8 Christmas Eve
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:11:51008 - Ch 7 A Projected Attack
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:55007 - Ch 6 The Transport Farm
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:07:43006 - Ch 5 My Man Friday
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:06:11005 - Ch 4 More Mud
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:10:29004 - Ch 3 Those Plugstreet Trenches
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:09:21003 - Ch 2 Tortuous Travelling
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:10:42002 - Ch 1 Landing at Havre
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:10:01001 - Foreword
Jan 06, 2026Step into the trenches of the Western Front during the tumultuous years of 1914-1915 through the eyes of Lieutenant (later Captain) Bruce Bairnsfather, a gifted cartoonist. His iconic characters, Alf, Bert, and Old Bill, paved the way for the likes of Bill Mauldin and his Willie and Joe in World War II. This engaging narrative chronicles Bairnsfathers journey as a machine gun officer, capturing the harrowing realities of warfare—from the relentless shelling to the mud and misery of battle. With a mix of wry, ironic humor, he recounts the absurdities and horrors faced by soldiers, including his participation in th...
Duration: 00:01:10