The World of Playing Cards Logo

Army Health Promotion

Published August 28, 2015 Updated April 30, 2022

Health Promotion playing cards issued by the British Army with cartoons about army life and information on where to get health advice.

2011 United Kingdom British Army Army Cartoon Education Health Humour

Issued by the British Army in 2011, this deck of playing cards was handed out to recruits. It contains 52 cards divided into hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades, each with a different cartoon about army life, involving humour about masculinity, drinking or drug awareness, but also imparting a health message such as “Hands on Survival - Check for Lumps”, “Fit to Fight” and “Don’t be your own worst enemy!” Packs come with two jokers bearing information on where to get health advice and help. The cards are in the style of American ‘Stag Party’ pin-up decks from the 1950s with naughty or suggestive cartoons for men only, often involving doctors, nurses and honeymooners.

Army Health Promotion playing cards issued by the British Army, 2011

Above: Army Health Promotion playing cards issued by the British Army, 2011. 52 cards + 2 jokers + exra info card in box. The back has the British Army insignia (lion atop crown over crossed swords) with the text “Army Health Promotion” “Fit for Life ¦ Fit to Fight” printed below in white. Images courtesy Matt Probert.


‘Stag Party’ pack, 1953

Stag Party Pack, 1953

Above: one of several novelty ‘Stag Party’ packs with suggestive or naughty cartoons, USA, c.1953. Image courtesy Rex Pitts.


REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000

avatar
1,477 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

1863 Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Large flat plate decorated with highly coloured English cards and royal arms.

1972 The UCR Deck

The UCR Deck

Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.

2024 Queen of Arts

Queen of Arts

A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.

1990 The Glasgow Pack

The Glasgow Pack

Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

2007 Verkeers Kwartet

Verkeers Kwartet

A helpful quartet game celebrating the 75th anniversary of road safety exams making traffic safer.

2018 Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

2004 Red Hat Society playing cards

Red Hat Society playing cards

Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1920 Question and Answer Games

Question and Answer Games

A card game called “Impertinent Questions and Pertinent Answers” was launched in the early 1920s by ...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1978 Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)

Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)

Caricatural updating of traditional Swiss Jass cards by the artist Fredy Sigg.

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

1988 SCOR playing cards

SCOR playing cards

Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.

2024 Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.