# XIII: Back on the Somme Again explained — A Yankee in the Trenches

> Chapter companion for A Yankee in the Trenches by Robert Derby Holmes.

## What happens

The narrator rejoins his battalion as they return to the Somme after a brief rest, facing burial fatigues, carrying parties, and the psychological toll of war. Superstitions and mascots like Dinky provide comfort amid the horror, and the chapter ends with the order to go over the top.

## Themes in this chapter

### Horrors and Absurdity of War

Burial fatigue with decaying bodies, the absurdity of attaching a German leg to a British corpse, and the matter-of-factness of death.

### Survival and Daily Life

Carrying parties for eight days, poor food and water, and the reliance on mascots like Dinky for psychological survival.

### Comradeship and Camaraderie

Shared burdens of fatigue, Wellsie's loyalty in delivering bad news, and the bond over superstitions.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Rejoins battalion, leads burial fatigue, carries Dinky mascot, commands platoon before attack.

### Wellsie

Complains about returning to Somme, delivers news of going over the top, carries a sea shell mascot.

### Yank

Called 'Darby' by the men; orders removal of a German leg from a body during burial fatigue.

### Mr. Blofeld

Acting second in command of the company, not present for the platoon commander summons.

### Dinky

The narrator's velvet black cat mascot, carried inside tunic for luck.

## Key lines

> Gawd lumme, 'ave we got to fight th' 'ole blinkin' war. Is it right? I awsks yer. Is it?

Wellsie complains that they are unfairly expected to fight the entire war alone.

_Expresses the battalion's dismay at returning to the Somme._

> Cawn't please Darby, no matter wot. Fawncy the blighter'd feel better wif two legs, if one was Boche. It's a fair crime sendin' 'im hover the river wif only one.

A soldier grumbles that Darby is hard to please, thinking a corpse would prefer two legs even if one is German.

_Highlights the absurdity and dark humor of burial fatigue._

> Maybe my shell ayen't doin' me no good. Maybe Dinky ayen't doin' you no good. But 'e ayen't doin' ye no 'arm. So 'ang on to 'im.

Wellsie argues that even if a mascot isn't helpful, it's harmless, so it's worth keeping.

_Reflects the soldiers' reliance on superstition for comfort._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xiii-back-on-the-somme-again
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters