Bernard Augustine Tussaud – 103 Squadron – Observer – 1918
Bernard Tussaud WW1
The Tussaud family were the originators of Madame Tussaud's wax museum established by Marie Tussaud, a French lady, in the early part of the 19th century which has now grown to become one of the major tourist attractions in London, and since WW2 has expanded considerably with branches and operations in many countries worldwide
Bernard Augustine Tussaud was one of Madame Tussaud' great great grandchildren born about 1895 I believe and as a child lived in Rickmansworth, Watford with his father John and mother Ruth and several siblings.
Above - The Tussaud family with Mr John Tussaud front row middle. Bernard Tussaud is 2nd left on the back row. All the Tussaud sons survived the war.
He enlisted as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers in September 1914 and was later awarded a commission and then may have had some connection with the Machine Gun Corps or at least completed a course with them before transferring to the Gloucestershire Rgt. He had been in the army from the start of WW1 and must have seen some of action in that time on the Western Front or possibly in Italy as the Gloucesters had battalions in both theatres of war
Bernard transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in late 1917 early 1918 and appears in the records as an Observer with the 103 Sqn in 1918. When he finally left the Squadron I do not know
After WW1 he returned to the family business becoming a wax modeller and sculptor of great distinction and considerable talent. When his father John died in 1943 Bernard took charge of the business and rebuilt the London attraction after much of it had been destroyed in the Blitz.
Bernard passed away 3 September 1967
Cover from the Picture Post Magazine 30 Dec 1944. Bernard at the back
Another photo from the same magazine. Bernard in middle
These photos were taken in the studio of famous sculpture Edward Whitney-Smith and show Bernard Tussaud back middle with the famous radio comedian of the 40s Tommy Handley seated and an unknown Tussaud modeller.. Whitney-Smith was sculpting bust of Tommy Handley at the time and must have co-operated with Bernard who was creating a wax model of Handley for the waxworks. Handley who was an extremely popular radio comedian from an era when comics were actually funny without being vulgar or woke.
Compiled by David Fell. Family photo from the Tussaud genealogy site. The Picture Post is mine
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