Ivor John and Bert Thomas

Brothers Ivor John and Bert Thomas

Ivor John Thomas, born 1873, Newport.  Whilst still in Newport, Ivor ran a large sculpture and stone merchant business.  During the mid to later 1890s, Ivor moved and settled in Swansea, and establishing a successful firm.  Ivor was a member of the Swansea Art Society, and during the period of 1899-1911 he exhibited his works.

The Cambrian
12th August 1904

August 1904, whilst residing at 21 Waterloo Street, Ivor married Beatrice Howard, daughter of the late Edward Howard, auctioneer of Swansea. 

Aged 40, Ivor John died, 1913.

Some of Ivor’s work included the bust of The Mayor of Swansea, Mr Councillor Morgan Tutton, 1908.  Exhibited at the Swansea Art Society, 20^th Exhibition of Works of Art, 1908, 28^th November to 12^th December 1908.  Also exhibited in the same exhibition bust of Swansea Lady. 

The younger brother, Bert was born 1883, Newport.  Both brothers were the sons of Job Thomas.   Job was a Stone Merchant.  He, like his son, established a large and successful business as a Marble and Stone Merchant.

Bert became a political cartoonist contributing to Punch, whom he joined in 1905 and stayed with until 1935.

During the First World War, Bert served with the Artist Rifles.  He became known by his 1918 carton, “Arf a mo, Kaiser” which was drawn in 10 minutes for the Smokes from Tommy, a campaign in the Weekly Dispatch.  The cartoon raised nearly quarter of a million pounds, towards the “comforts”.  The image was redrawn against for the Second World War.

In the 1918 Birthday Honours, Bert was made MBE.

The Cambrian
8th October 1909

Bert married Elizabeth Florette Bowen, during 1909.  They had 4 sons and 2 daughters. 

Aged 82, Bert died in London, 1966.  He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.