Pip, Squeak and Wilfred

with very long ears.

Character Beginnings

The origins of the characters are mentioned in the cartoon strips as Squeak being found in London Zoological Gardens after having been hatched on the South African coast years before. Pip was discovered begging by a Policeman on the Embankment, and was sent to a Dog's Home, where he was bought for half-a-crown. Wilfred was found in a field near to his burrow and was adopted by Pip and Squeak, who were in turn looked after by Uncle Dick and Angeline, the house maid of their family house on the edge of London.

The WLOG Fanclub

In 1927, the Pip, Squeak and Wilfred club began. It was named the Wilfredian League of Gugnuncs (WLOG) and organised many competitions and events for the thousands of members, especially at the British South Coast Seaside resorts. Gugnuncs is a combination of 2 baby-talk words used by Wilfred, who as a toddler-aged child cannot speak yet. "Nunc" being his version of "Uncle". There was a WLOG member's badge in blue enamelled metal, featuring the long ears of Wilfred. Among the WLOG rules was one to never eat rabbit.

Cartoon Films

A series of silent animated cartoons were produced in 1921 by Lancelot Speed. They were entitled "The Wonderful Adventures of Pip, Squeak & Wilfred". 25 were made & were shown from 17 February 1921 to 11 August 1921.

Annuals

Their adventures featured in numerous annuals as well as the daily newspaper strip. Pip and Squeak Annuals from 1924 to 1939 and a separate Wilfred's Annual from 1924 to 1938, featuring stories aimed at under-10 year olds. The 1934 Pip & Squeak Annual featured a 'magic red frame' which allowed you to see hidden pictures on several pages. The 1939 Pip & Squeak annual incorporated the Wilfred's Annual which had ended the previous year. There were 3 "Uncle Dick's Annuals" from 1930-32, the first one being fully named 'Uncle Dick's Competition Annual'. A revived Pip, Squeak & Wilfred annual was issued from 1953-1955. This featured updated characters, making Wilfred speak, losing the innocence and surreal charm of the pre-war years.

An early book was Pip, Squeak & Wilfred, Their "Luvly" Adventures, issued in 1921 by Stanley Paul & Co, London. This book recapped on the earliest Daily Mirror strips, showing how they were introduced. "Luvly" being one of Squeak's favourite words.

Newspaper Supplements

The Daily Mirror featured a Saturday 4-page pull-out comic supplement, starting on Saturday, October 15, 1921, which was titled "The Adventures of Pip, Squeak and Wilfred : No 1 - Thrills in the Printing Works." Later editions reduced to 3 pages on 25 March 1922, then to 2 pages on 8 July 1922 until the supplement ended c1924.

The popularity of Pip, Squeak & Wilfred was immense, the 16 December 1922 edition Of The Daily Mirror reports 100,000 copies of the 1923 "Pip and Squeak Annual" had been sold.

Pip, Squeak & Wilfred used in War Medal terminology

After the First World War 1914-18, three medals were awarded to most of the British servicemen that had served from 1914 or 1915. They were the Mons Star, the British War Medal, and the British Victory Medal. They were irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak, and Wilfred and are still so today.

References

*Daily Mirror Newspaper Saturday Editions 15 October 1921 - 8 September 1923
*Pip, Squeak & Wilfred, Their "Luvly" Adventures (1921) Stanley Paul & Co, London
*Pip and Squeak Annuals 1923-1939
*Wilfred's Annual 1924-1938
*Uncle Dick's (Competition) Annual 1930-1932
* [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/A/A-_Miscellany/Astra_Films/The_Wonderful_Adventures_of_Pip__Squeak_and_Wilfred/index.html Cartoons Details]