Bully for you!
“Hey, you’re British, aren’t you?”
I was at McHaffie’s Flea Market and know many of the vendors. One of them was asking that question. I said yes, and he asked if I knew anything about John Bull. It isn’t unusual for vendors to ask my assistance in identifying an item or, in this case, giving a brief history lesson.
John Bull was essentially a patriotic symbol to the British; the Americans later based Uncle Sam on him. Depicted as a fairly stout man reeking of country-squire England, after a few alterations to his outfit he sported a waistcoat with the Union Jack on it. During his time at Eton, the teenaged Prince William was photographed in an identical waistcoat, arguably a move to align the future King with the commoner.
Back to the poster. Instead of the rotund form of the pugnacious Brit, there stood a fearsome version of his nameless but loyal companion: a British bulldog. Standing four-square and standing knee-deep in water, helpfully labelled ‘the Seven Seas’, the glowering dog sported a sailor’s cap tilted over one ear.
between the British bulldog and the Royal British Navy is unmistakable.
I explained to the vendor that the poster was most likely a WWI propaganda piece, designed to remind everyone that it was a sign of patriotism to the Brits and a warning to the rest of the world. At that time, the British Royal Navy literally did rule the Seven Seas. Furthermore, there were a total of eight ships named either Bulldog or Bull Dog; bulldogs were also the mascot of choice for many ships.
The British bulldog, with its roots in Britain, was an everyman’s companion dog, not an elite breed accessible only to the upper classes. Their muscular, stocky build, widespread stance, large heads and pugnacious expressions are unmistakable. Originally bred to be both companion animals and fighting dogs, they were popular all over the British Isles. With their unrelenting grip, fearlessness in combat and fierce protectiveness of their family, it is easy to see how the Brits related to the breed.
During WWII the face of British PM Winston Churchill and the face of the bulldog were often swapped, as the stocky, jowly British Prime Minister shared those traits and their steadfast, dogged nature. His infamous speech, ‘We shall fight on the beaches’, originally given in the House of Commons on June 18, 1940 includes the line, ‘We shall never surrender’.
And that, I told the vendor, was what John Bull and the British bulldog were all about. Never surrendering, no matter how terrible the odds or the tremendous losses.
Hope you have enjoyed this history-based post. If you do, please like and comment.
Until next time, stay safe!
