Mick Armstrong b. 1903

Also known as Harold Barry Armstrong
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
Prolific mid twentieth century war and political cartoonist and designer. Armstrong contributed to a number of publications including the Argus, the Sydney Sun, Smith's Weekly, Melbourne Punch and Aussie. His first publication, at the age of 16, was in the Bulletin.

cartoonist and commercial artist, was born in Paddington, Sydney but the family soon moved to Tasmania. Mick had his first cartoon published in the Bulletin when aged 16, and he continued to contribute to it occasionally while working as a survey draughtsman, evidently after moving from Tasmania to Melbourne. He also contributed gag cartoons to Smith’s Weekly , Aussie and other papers, e.g. Smith’s Weekly 26 January 1924, 19: 'MAN: “Feelin’ crook?” WOMAN: “No” MAN: “Got a pain?” WOMAN: “No” MAN: “Well, d’yer think yer goin’ ter be crook?” WOMAN: “No” MAN: “Aw, yer contrairy cow. Yer won’t give a block a chance ter drink yer bloomin’ 'ealth.”’

Mick Armstrong drew political cartoons for Melbourne Punch in 1925, for the Sydney Sun in 1932 then worked for several conservative Melbourne papers: the Herald (1932-34), Star (1934-36), Argus (1936-57) and Sun News Pictorial (1957-59). Best known for his work on the Argus during WWII, his wartime subjects include: a wounded tattooed soldier, a cow giving black milk in the blackout, both 1941; The Case for a National Government (a Japanese soldier looking over a map of Australia) 1943 (ill. King, 142); and a plump bespectacled land army girl with an angry cow saying, “Yoo hoo, Mister Cowpaddock – I can’t get this separator thing [udder] to work!” 1943 (ill. Lindesay 1979, 250, 259, 265).

Armstrong published 10 cartoon anthologies, most during WWII (nine listed in refs). His 'Sam N Eggs’ strip circulated widely in the US and in one year during WWII he had 56 cartoons reproduced overseas. National Library of Australia (NLA) has at least three of Armstrong’s original ink cartoons published in the Argus : 'Comp. cook-gen., small fam., live in’, n.d. [1940s?] re Billy Hughes; 'To a miniature’ published 1 September 1949; and 'Barrel of mon [money]’ published 27 June 1955 (re Tatts), while the Victorian State Library (VSL) has at least 11 originals, mostly WWII period. Armstrong worked as a commercial artist from 1959 to 1964 then joined ATV Channel 0.

Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007