Prior to World War One, cartoonist Cecil Hartt contributed illustrations to various Australian journals including the Clarion, the Bulletin and the Australian Worker. In 1915 he enlisted in the 18th Battalion of the New South Wales Contingent of the A.I.F. and subsequently served during the Gallipoli campaign. Badly wounded while at Suvla Bay on 27 August 1915, Hartt convalesced in England and it was during this time that, from 1916, 'he contributed drawings to the Bystander, Passing Show and London Opinion'. He also produced a booklet of Digger jokes, Humorosities (London: Australian Trading and Agencies, [1917]), which 'proved a surprise bestseller, selling over 60,000 copies...After his discharge in 1919 Hartt returned to Australia and began work at Smith's Weekly as its first staff artist. From 1919 until his death he established the character of the "Digger" page (which continued for 30 years, the paper's entire lifetime) with "The Unofficial History of the AIF".'
A 'good friend' of Henry Lawson , Hartt was also the first president of the Australian Black and White Artists' Club (1924-1930) formed on 17 July 1924.
(Source: Dictionary of Australian Artists Online)
