As TheChauffeur.com celebrates a decade of supplying the industry with vital news and features, 2014 also marks a hundred years since the original chauffeur magazine was stopped due to World War One.
In issue one of The Chauffeur magazine in 2003, it was reported that between 1908 and 1914 a magazine was exclusively printed for the chauffeur of that period. It carried topics of interest relating to cars, legislation, social events and news.
Editor, Paul Gibson met with Leslie Cabrera from the British Chauffeurs Guild in 2003 when the original writings were revealed. Leslie had researched and compiled articles from the early magazine over a twenty year period. He showed cuttings of humorous drawings and articles containing the thoughts of the early twentieth century driver.
An extract from the magazine written one month after the war began read; “The war is going to seriously affect chauffeurs. We write of what we know when we say that among all industries and occupations from which reservists, both army and naval are to be drawn, the business of chauffeuring is likely to be as badly hit in this respect as any.”
The article ended; “We feel sure, however, that whatever may be in store for us as the result of the coming conflict, the chauffeur will, above all, be patriotic, and weather he is called as a reservist or finds occupation in the war as one of the thousands of drivers who will be necessary for running the motor vehicles engaged by the authorities, he will do his duty to his country.”
In what is believed to be the last edition, a drawing was published in the 1914 new year issue showing the wishes of a chauffeur. It features the good intentions of the newly created M.D.P.L (Motor Drivers Parliamentary League), an association created to represent the interests of the chauffeur. Its aim was to approach the government and obtain legislation to provide proper welfare and fair pay.
Sadly, nothing was achieved by the association as it was disbanded due to the war and never reformed.
