William Henry Dyson

Place: Alfredtown Near Ballarat

Born: 1880

Death: 1938

Biography:

Will Dyson was an internationally feted cartoonist, renowned for his powerful work during the early decades of the twentieth century. His sardonic wit, deeply held loathing of injustice and deft pen produced some of the most memorable cartoons of his time. Dyson was born in Alfredtown near Ballarat, Victoria in 1880, the ninth of 11 children. He studied for a short time in Melbourne before beginning his career as a caricaturist. In 1909, Dyson married Ruby Lindsay and settled in London. He became widely known as an illustrator and commentator supporting progressive social reforms in Britain, with his cartoons often controversial and tackling difficult issues such as poverty, inequality and war. At the outbreak of World War I, Dyson directed his scathing artwork at German militarism. In 1916, he applied to join the Australian forces at the Western Front as an artist. He was appointed an honorary lieutenant and joined the Anzac troops in France in January 1917, becoming Australia's first official war artist by the following May. After the death of his wife in 1919, Dyson went through a difficult emotional period, during which his artistic output suffered. He returned to Australia in 1924, but returned to England in 1930. Dyson died in London in 1938, aged 57.