Popeye
From Imperial War Museum-
"The sailor in the above photo (Marky's) is really a sailor, but he's a British sailor. His name is lost to history, but the Imperial War Museum lists him as "A Leading Stoker nicknamed 'Popeye,'" with 21 years in service and fighting aboard the HMS Rodney in 1940. Fiegel would have been at least 70 years old when this photo of the battleship sailor was taken.
Frank "Rocky" Fiegel was actually a bartender and not any kind of sailor, but he did love the kids around Chester, and they used to love to play pranks on the old barfly. Fiegel would impress them with his feats of strength as well as his telltale corncob pipe – something young Segar would never forget. "Popeye" was an homage to an unforgettable man who lived to know his image was soon in 500 newspapers nationwide, the symbol of sticking up for the little guy."
BTW Can thoroughly recommend 'Popeye Village' on Malta.
If it still exists 🤔
😎