{"product_id":"new-products-08-august-2026-john-bull-british-character-home-guard-concept","title":"New Products  08 August 2026 John Bull – British Character \u0026 Home Guard Concept","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Bull\u003c\/strong\u003e is the traditional national personification of England, and later Britain, much like \u003cstrong\u003eUncle Sam\u003c\/strong\u003e represents the United States or \u003cstrong\u003eMarianne\u003c\/strong\u003e represents France. Rather than being a real historical figure, John Bull is a fictional character who has symbolised the British people for over 300 years.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe character was first created in \u003cstrong\u003e1712\u003c\/strong\u003e by Scottish physician and writer \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Arbuthnot\u003c\/strong\u003e in a series of political pamphlets. Arbuthnot portrayed John Bull as an honest, stubborn, plain-speaking English farmer who became embroiled in European politics. The character quickly gained popularity and evolved into one of Britain's best-known national symbols.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, John Bull appeared regularly in newspapers, satirical magazines and political cartoons. Artists such as \u003cstrong\u003eJames Gillray\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Cruikshank\u003c\/strong\u003e and the illustrators of \u003cem\u003ePunch\u003c\/em\u003e magazine transformed him into the familiar figure recognised today: a broad-shouldered country gentleman wearing a top hat, waistcoat, frock coat, breeches or rolled trousers, and sturdy boots. He was often shown carrying a walking stick and represented the resilience, independence and common sense of the British people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the Victorian era, John Bull had become the embodiment of Britain's confidence and growing influence around the world. During times of political debate he could represent the voice of the ordinary citizen, while in wartime he symbolised national unity, determination and endurance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough \u003cstrong\u003eUncle Sam\u003c\/strong\u003e eventually became the dominant recruiting figure in the United States, John Bull continued to appear on British propaganda posters throughout the First World War. One of the best-known examples is the \u003cstrong\u003e\"Who's Absent? Is it You?\"\u003c\/strong\u003e recruitment poster, in which John Bull points directly at the viewer, encouraging men to volunteer for military service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Second World War, John Bull was used less frequently than other British symbols such as the British Bulldog, the Union Flag and Winston Churchill. However, he remained a recognisable symbol of Britain's identity and steadfast spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eJohn Bull in the Jager Hobby Concept Series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis concept series imagines John Bull in a new role as an elderly member of the \u003cstrong\u003eHome Guard\u003c\/strong\u003e during the Second World War. Rather than portraying him as a frontline soldier, these designs present him as the embodiment of Britain's civilian resolve during the Blitz—a volunteer standing watch over his community, protecting the Home Front and representing the determination of ordinary people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concept combines John Bull's traditional appearance with authentic Home Guard equipment and poses inspired by wartime observation, civil defence and resilience. It is intended as a respectful reinterpretation of one of Britain's oldest national characters while remaining faithful to his long-established role as the personification of the British people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProject Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is an original Jager Hobby concept currently in development. The artwork shown represents early design studies and is intended to explore character, costume and storytelling before any sculpting or figure production begins.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jager Hobby","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57361037164919,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/6792\/7415\/files\/John_Bull_-_World_War_I_recruiting_poster.jpg?v=1786175673","url":"https:\/\/jagerhobby.com\/products\/new-products-08-august-2026-john-bull-british-character-home-guard-concept","provider":"Jager Hobby","version":"1.0","type":"link"}