Recollections of War > Records

WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer made from card and cloth

c. 1914
Overview

World War One era paper doll depicting a British Army Officer in full service dress uniform. The upper section of his body is made from printed card and shows him wearing a khaki tunic with rank pips on the epaulettes, Sam Browne belt and a peaked cap with unidentified insignia.
He is holding a cigarette in one hand.
His legs are made from a section of khaki fabric which joins more printed card at the feet which are clad in shiny brown leather boots. The fabric is fraying slightly due to age. The feet are standing on a rectangular piece of printed cream card.
The reverse of the doll shows how the fabric is glued to both sections of card. There is a section of brown cord for hanging at the top which is stuck beneath a circular piece of white card to the back of the doll's head.

Historical information

Original World War One era British officer paper dolls are rare. They often appeared in 1910s children's magazines or as hand-painted, early 20th-century toy sets. They typically feature officers in khaki service dress uniforms, including peaked caps, Sam Browne belts, and puttees.
This example is unusual in having the fabric trousers extending from underneath the tunic to the ankles above the boots.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00865
Item type
Collectibles
Ephemera
Toys
Themes
Leisure
Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1
Material
Card
Cord (Fiber Product)
Fabrics
Ink
Width
177 mm
Height or length
400 mm
Keywords
World War One
Children
Toy Soldier
Doll
Home Front
History - Social
Year
c. 1914
Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Rare or representative
Last modified
Monday, 4 May, 2026
Completeness
94
Recollections of War

Recollections of War

WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer made from card and cloth
WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer made from card and cloth
Close-up of top half of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Close-up of top half of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Close-up of bottom half of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Close-up of bottom half of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Reverse of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer made from card and cloth
Reverse of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer made from card and cloth
Close-up of top half of reverse of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Close-up of top half of reverse of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer
Close-up of bottom half of reverse of WWI era paper doll of British Army Officer

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->