Roger Harris Presents

W.E. JOHNS IN THE GIRLS OWN PAPER

A GUIDE TO THE WORK OF W. E. JOHNS INCLUDING ALL "WORRALS" STORIES SERIALISED IN THE GIRLS OWN PAPER

W. E. Johns first article for ‘The Girl’s Own Paper’ was in April 1934

It was called “Looking Up For a Living

Just click on any cover to see it in more detail and click on the story part below the cover to see the internal illustrations from that particular W. E. Johns story

Volume 62

October 1940

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part One

This issue also features an article headed

‘Our Post Bag’ which introduces Captain W. E. Johns

and describes the character of Worrals.

View here

 

Volume 62

November 1940

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Two

This issue also features an article headed

‘Captain W. E. Johns describes

LIFE IN THE W.A.A.F’

View here

 

Volume 62

December 1940

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Three

Volume 62

January 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Four

Volume 62

February 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Five

 

 

 

Volume 62

March 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Six

Volume 62

April 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Seven

Volume 62

May 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Eight

Volume 62

June 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Nine

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘Why Not An A.T.C. For Girls’

which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain W. E. Johns

that I have included it in this guide.

 

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

 

Volume 62

July 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Ten

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘Careers Aloft’

which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain W. E. Johns

that I have included it in this guide.

 

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

Volume 62

August 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Eleven

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There are also two uncredited articles called ‘Chivalry in the Air’

 and ‘Women and Wings’ which just seem to me to be so like the work of

Captain W. E. Johns that I have included them in this guide.

Click ‘view here’ above to see them.

Volume 62

September 1941

Worrals of the WAAFs

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Twelve

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘The World as the Airman

 Sees it’ which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain

W. E. Johns that I have included it in this guide.

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

 

Volume 63

October 1941

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part One

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There are also two uncredited articles called ‘Cooking for Victory’

 and ‘Women at War’ which just seem to me to be so like the work

of Captain W. E. Johns that I have included them in this guide.

Click ‘view here’ above to see them.

 

Volume 63

November 1941

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Two

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘They Spot the Bombers’

which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain W. E. Johns

that I have included it in this guide.

 

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

Volume 63

December 1941

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Three

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘Winged Wonders’

which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain W. E. Johns

that I have included it in this guide.

 

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

Volume 63

January 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Four

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

There is also an uncredited article called ‘Mysteries of the Air’

which just seems to me to be so like the work of Captain W. E. Johns

that I have included it in this guide.

 

Click ‘view here’ above to see it.

Volume 63

February 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Five

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

Advert for Worrals of the W.A.A.F on the rear cover

 

Volume 63

March 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 11 x 8 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Six

NOTE THAT CHAPTER NUMBERS NO LONGER APPEAR

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ edited by Captain W. E. Johns

headed ‘Between You and Me and the Joystick’

View here

Volume 63

April 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 10 x 7.5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Seven

NOTE THE SLIGHT REDUCTION IN SIZE DUE

TO THE WARTIME PAPER SHORTAGES

This issue also features an article called

‘The World on Wings’ but now it is by ‘Pilot’

Volume 63

May 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 10 x 7.5 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Eight

 

Volume 63

June 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 10 x 7.5 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Nine

 

 

 

Volume 63

July 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 10 x 7.5 inches – 32 PAGES)

Part Ten

Volume 63

August 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Eleven

NOTE THE FURTHER SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SIZE DUE

TO THE WARTIME PAPER SHORTAGES

Volume 63

September 1942

Worrals Carries On

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Twelve

Volume 64

October 1942

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part One

 

 

 

Volume 64

November 1942

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Two

Volume 64

December 1942

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 44 PAGES)

Part Three

Volume 64

January 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Four

Volume 64

February 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Five

 

 

 

Volume 64

March 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Six

Volume 64

April 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Seven

Volume 64

May 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Eight

Volume 64

June 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Nine

 

 

 

Volume 64

July 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Ten

Volume 64

August 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Eleven

Volume 64

September 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Twelve

Volume 65

October 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Thirteen

 

 

 

Volume 65

November 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 40 PAGES)

Part Fourteen

Volume 65

December 1943

Worrals Flies Again

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 50 PAGES)

Part Fifteen

N.B. – ISSUES FROM JANUARY 1944 TO OCTOBER 1945 INCLUSIVE FEATURED NO ARTICLES OR “WORRALS” STORIES BY W.E. JOHNS

 

Volume 67

November 1945

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part One

Volume 67

December 1945

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 60 PAGES)

Part Two

 

 

 

Volume 67

January 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches - 48 PAGES)

Part Three

Volume 67

February 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Four

Volume 67

March 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 48 PAGES)

Part Five

Volume 67

April 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Six

N.B. – THIS ISSUE FEATURED THE FIRST COLOUR ILLUSTRATION

 

Volume 67

May 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Seven

Volume 67

June 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Eight

No Volume Number

July 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Nine

No Volume Number

August 1946

Worrals in the Wilds

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Ten

 

 

 

No Volume Number

October 1946

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part One

N.B. – ISSUE SEPTEMBER 1946 FEATURED NO “WORRALS” STORY BY W.E. JOHNS

No Volume Number

November 1946

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Two

No Volume Number

December 1946

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 68 PAGES)

Part Three

No Volume Number

January 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Four

 

No Volume Number

February 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Five

No Volume Number

March 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Six

No Volume Number

April 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Seven

No Volume Number

May 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Eight

No Volume Number

June 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Nine

No Volume Number

July 1947

Worrals Down Under

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

Part Ten

No Volume Number

September 1947

Worrals Works It Out

(Size 7.5 x 5 inches – 56 PAGES)

A Complete Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER

The Girl’s Own Paper was first published on 3rd January 1880, virtually a year after the launch of the Boy’s Own Paper was first published on 19th January 1879.

It was originally published by the Religious Tract Society but was taken over by Lutterworths Press.

In October 1929, the title became Girl’s Own Paper and Woman’s Magazine but in 1930 the Woman’s Magazine became a separate publication.

 

In December 1947, the magazine became ‘Girl’s Own Paper introducing Heiress’ (up until and including the August 1948 issue) and then from September 1948 this became ‘Girl’s Own Paper and Heiress’

However the “Heiress” was in a far bigger font.  By 1950 the magazine was just called ‘Heiress’ with the tag line ‘The magazine for the older girl’.

This change of emphasis may explain why the last three Worrals books (Worrals in the Wastelands, Worrals Goes Afoot and Worrals Investigates) were not serialised in ‘Heiress’.

The Magazine finally folded in 1956.

 Johns first wrote an article for the “The Girl’s Own Paper” in APRIL 1934 and that article also appeared in “The Girl’s Own Annual LV” (Number 55), pages 327 to 329.

 It was entitled  Looking Up For a Living

W. E. Johns had Worrals stories serialised in 60 issues of the Girl’s Own Paper which is a remarkable co-incidence because he had stories serialised in 60 issues of the Boy’s Own Paper as well!

This site displays all the covers of the 60 W. E. Johns “Worrals” issues as well as the first “April 1934” issue.

 

The magazine was edited from 1880 to 1907 by Charles Peters and from 1908 to 1931 by Flora Klickmann.  Gladys Spratt was the editor from 1931 onwards.

The magazine cost 6d in October 1940 and this increased to 8d in March 1941 and 9d in October 1941 (no doubt due to wartime shortages of paper).  The price remained 9d until the 1950s.

The numbering of the pages of the issues from October 1940 to September 1941 is unusual.

There are (usually) 16 pages numbered 1 to 16 but in the centre of these pages (i.e. between pages 8 and 9) there are 24 pages numbered, in the October 1940 issue, as pages 1 to 24.

In the November 1940 issue, these pages then are numbered 25 to 48 and this progression continues until the September 1941 issue when the 24 central pages are  numbered 265 to 288.

These central pages, numbered 1 to 288 were then bound and published as THE GIRL’S OWN ANNUAL – VOLUME SIXTY-TWO.

However, the Girl’s Own Annual Volume 62 didn’t stop at page 288.  It actually had 480 pages!

I haven’t been able to find out if these extra pages were ever published elsewhere, other than in the annual.

What is of interest is that those additional pages contain THE RAVENSDALE MYSTERY by a certain William Earle, who was of course, W.E. Johns!

That was the last of the 62 Girl’s Own Annuals to be published – no doubt due to wartime paper shortages.

From the October 1941 issue onwards, the pages of the magazine are just numbered 1 to 40 in the conventional way.

 

This web site actually took me many YEARS to build! – simply because I found obtaining copies of THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER from the years 1940 to 1947 so difficult to do!  They appear to be VERY rare.

I believe this is because the wartime issues of the magazine strongly encouraged their readers to recycle copies to aid the war effort and I imagine British girls were particularly good at doing so, making copies scare.

 

The copyright in all of W.E. Johns work is owned by the estate of W.E. Johns as represented by W. E. Johns (Publications) Limited.

This private limited company have appointed literary agent Pat White of Rogers Coleridge White to represent the interests of the estate.  Their web site is here:  http://www.rcwlitagency.com/

This is a non profit making fan based web site purely for the information of fellow fans - no infringement of copyright is intended.

The intention of this web site is to encourage people to read the works of William Earl Johns, one of the great authors of the 20th Century

 

Don’t forget to visit Biggles.com   and  Worrals.com   and     W. E. Johns.Com for information about W. E. Johns books

 

E - ME

 

This website was launched on 1st April 2014 – the 82nd Anniversary of the creation of Biggles! – but I didn’t get the one missing issue (June 1942) until 5th February 2015 – W. E. Johns 122nd birthday!