Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to our newsletters to get our latest updates, events and exhibitions sent straight to your inbox.
Pascal: Arthur Kaye's First World War autograph book - Wakefield Museums and Castles
Pascal: Arthur Kaye's First World War autograph book
Monday, July 13, 2026My name is Pascal, I am a student at the University of Huddersfield. Over the last few months, I have been on a work experience placement at the Wakefield Museums and Castles collections store.
I have been cataloguing an autograph book from the First World War.
Front cover of Arthur Kaye's autograph book
The autograph book was owned by Arthur Kaye, a resident of Ossett.
Arthur Kaye, 6 Walton Place, Flushdyke, Ossett, Yorkshire
Arthur served on HMS Pelican, a destroyer best known for taking part in the famous Battle of Jutland.
H.M.S. Pelican drawn by J. Howe, 5 October 1917
When I first saw the book, I was surprised by its small size. It’s just 120mm by 93mm. But don’t let its small stature deceive you into disregarding the abundance of social history to be found within its pages!
"A wonderful bird is the Pelican. Its beak can hold more than its billion. It can hold in its beak just enough for a week. Perhaps you'll wonder how the hel.i.am." H. Reynolds, H.M.S. Pelican. 2 July 1917
The autograph book is distinctive in its diverse range of signatories. They range from local Ossett residents such as Annie Green of Haggs Hill, all the way to residents of Eyemouth in Berwickshire, Scotland like that of R. White.
The book consists of 86 pages. Across these pages over 88 different people left their individual mark, so many in fact that some of the pages had to be added in retrospectively!
Arthur seems to have given the signatories free reign to add whatever they wanted alongside their signature. The book contains a variety of poems, sketches, jokes and even some messages left between recurring signatories.
Autograph book contents: poems
In terms of poems, there are romantic ballads, thoughtful messages, and variations of classic rhymes like ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb' and ‘Old Mother Hubbard’ (who features three times!).
'Mary had little lamb with it she used to tussle, she tore the wool from off its back and made a mat of it. Yer been had' A. Berkshire
'Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, her new harem skirt to take out, But when she got there, the cupboard was bare, John had thought it his house no doubt.' 'He does much who does little well.' Halifax, H. Sunderland of H.M.S. Cornwall. 6 April 1917.
A personal highlight of mine is one of Scottish resident R. White titled ‘Europe's Game of Cards’.
"I'll go one said Austria" / "I'll go two said France," / "I'll go three said Russia," / "Because I have a chance," / "I'll go four said Germany, / and wipe you of the map," / but she got a fright / when Britain said, / "Blimy" I'll go "nap." / R. White, Brownsbank, Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland. 3 June 1914.
Autograph book contents: sketches
While some chose to write their thoughts in poems and messages, others left their mark through artistic sketches. There are too many to list.
Some of my favourites are a sketch of Charlie Chaplin and an illustration of a Red Cross nurse.
There’s also a cartoon of a British bulldog whose collar reads ‘British Navy’ chasing another dog, representing the Kaiserliche Marine (German Imperial Navy), back to ‘Kiel Kennel’.
"Charlie", Leonard Giggal, 3 July 1916
"A Red Cross Nurse", [?] Reece, 3 November 1914
"Back to his kennel", H. Jeale, 6 June 1916
Autograph book contents: jokes
Finally, no aspect of modern British social history would be complete without some quintessential British humour. It really showcases the character of these signatories. Even in the unimaginable struggle of the Great War, some chose to write jokes across the book’s pages.
Some highlights that gave me a laugh were J.W.H Peker’s joke about the Kaiser and a clever joke involving a stamp stuck to the page. There's also a fight to be the last signature in the book.
"Why does he Kaiser drink out of a basin? Because he has sent all his mugs to the front." "Joffre / French" [Play on words where the first three and / or last three letters spell the same thing, no matter the combination] / "Kultur / Turkey" / "Kaiser / Serbia" / "Juis [Illustration of back end of a pig] me a hug." J.W.H. Pekers, H.M.S. Argonaut. 3 June 1917.
"By Gum I am Stuck" Geo Guiddington, December 5 1918. HM Pelican.
My personal favourite is a piece of classic British sarcasm found in the fake property listing of ‘Shrapnel View’. It's only three minutes from the German trenches!
"Where To Live (Advt) / (Shrapnel View) / In one of the choicest localities of Northern France. To be let (three minutes from German trenches). This attractive and well built dug out containing one reception room, kitchen, bedroom and ??? hole, (4 ft, by 3 ft.) all modern in -- conveniences incluing gas and water. This desiarable residence stands one foot above water level command- / -ing an excellent view of enemy trenches. Excellent shooting (smite and duck) for [parlieuouss]? of the [pale]? tenant room. b. Base Hospital, Boulogne."
As a local to West Yorkshire, cataloguing the autograph book and ensuring the voices of its signatories is heard means a lot to me. It helps to supplement the local social history of the area. I believe this is important, as in striving to truly understand the lived experience of people, we can ensure to recover the lives and voices of those who may have been lost within traditional narratives.
Today, it can be all too easy to forget the individuals involved in events like the First World War. The focus is often on ‘great’ battles, stories and treaties. Therefore, I believe this project holds significance in its unique poems, in its impressive sketches and in its entertaining jokes. It helps us to imagine what the people aboard the HMS Pelican might have been like, and reminds us just how alike me and you they really were.
(Many thanks to Pascal and all his research into Arthur Kaye's autograph book!)
Find out more
Enjoyed Pascal's blog? Read more blogs from our experts and guest writers on our News and Blog page.