We Happy Few: An Anthology edited by Owen Rutter (Golden Cockerel Press, 1946)

Will you think yourself accursed for missing this one?

The Golden Cockerel Press; 1946; 150pp; 190x130x20mm; 0.3kg; quarter-bound in cloth with paper sides; black and white relief prints throughout; limited to 750 copies; Cockalorum number 171.

In 1946, Britain was celebrating the end of the most destructive conflict in history, five years of Churchill’s sermons on stoicism having bolstered a collective sense of national pride. The time, therefore, was ripe for a volume in unashamed celebration of Britain’s past and shared destiny. This was the work of Owen Rutter, who undertook to compile an anthology of quotes, writings, and historical accounts that reflected this renewed identity—from Agincourt to Trafalgar, Spitfires to ships of the line. Rutter died before completing the work, but was survived by a wife who assembled his notes, resulting in the Golden Cockerel Press’s We Happy Few.

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We Happy Few exterior details.

This is a diminutive volume quarter bound in blue cloth with paper sides covered in a red printed design by the artist. The title is stamped in gold on the spine (along with a small cockerel motif) and the top edge of the text block is gilded. The other edges are untrimmed. Inside we find a rough hand-made paper that feels a little crude, perhaps in consequence of the ongoing austerity of the post-war years. Indeed, don’t be fooled by this book’s private press pedigree: there’s much about it that is crude. The edition is limited to 750 copies, the first 100 of which had a special binding (I have one of the “non special” copies).

The text is set in 12pt Caslon’s Old Face and the book is illustrated by John O’Connor, who provides eleven engravings depicting montages that draw upon symbols of Britain’s military past. These are not crisp, finely-detailed engravings, but that should be forgiven in light of the fact that O’Connor completed them while on active service during the war, sending them to the publisher by field post.

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We Happy Few interior details.

The anthology draws on a range of source material organised into three thematic sections: Britain at War, Britain at Sea, and Britain in the Air. The book’s title, of course, draws from the famous St Crispin’s Day speech, put into the mouth of Henry V by William Shakespeare :

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Henry V (IV.III) by William Shakesepare

Fittingly, this speech is the first entry in the anthology, although it is truncated, having lost its first few lines. Other highlights include a fascinating look at the (secret) orders that would ultimately see James Cook “discover” Australia, a moving account of the battle of Trafalgar and Nelson’s death there, and a farcical look at the orders governing naval salutes. Some subjects, however important, seem like they are a little over-represented, perhaps because this is where Rutter concentrated his early research for the book. Perhaps for the same reason, the books draws heavily on some particular sources, especially Michael Joseph’s A Pageant of History. Still, skewed as the selection may be, this particular Englishman enjoyed dipping into the anthology before bed each night. ■

Cocaklorum: This is book number 171 in Cockalorum, where the entry reads thus: “171. December, 1946. WE HAPPY FEW. Compiled by Owen Rutter. Foreword by Dorothy Rutter. 11 wood-engravings by John O’Connor. 150 pp. 7.5 x 5 ins. Caslon’s Old Face 12 pt type. 750 numbered copies on mould-made paper. 100 copies in red and blue morocco with cloth between, price 5gns. 650 copies in 1/4 blue buckram with decorated board, price 30s. This book, prepared by Owen Rutter shortly before his death, is a last tribute to my old comrade. Here are most of our favourite poems on the theme of England at war. The splendid engravings are by ‘Flying-Officer’ John O’Connor. They were all made in a camp on active service, and came to me precariously by field post. The binding of the specials in red, white and blue (with the spine in red, the fore-edge in blue, and the gold lion on the white panel between) seemed to me one of my more than usually successful experiments.”

Where to buy

You can search for copies of this edition on eBay US*, eBay UK*, AbeBooks US*, or AbeBooks UK*.

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I bought my copy from a UK-based eBay seller for £40, including postage. It was an inexpensive way to dip a toe in the water of The Golden Cockerel Press (look for more from this publisher on the blog soon).