Character guide

The Narrator

major

Also known as I, me, myself, mine, ye, our, we, us

An American volunteer serving with the British Army in the trenches of World War I.

Tommy

supporting

Also known as The British Tommy, the British, British, the Tommy, A Tommy, The average Tommy, a Tommy, the Tommies, The Tommies

Generic term for British soldiers; the narrator's comrades in the trenches.

Fritz

minor

Also known as Whereupon Mr. Fritz

A German soldier encountered by the narrator during trench raids.

Mr. Blofeld

minor

Also known as Blofeld

An officer or comrade mentioned in the narrator's unit.

Mad Harry

supporting

Also known as Harry, Harold, Harrison

A daring and reckless soldier in the narrator's company.

Kamarad

minor

A German prisoner or term used for surrendering enemy soldiers.

The Germans

supporting

Also known as Germans, the Germans

The opposing German forces in the war.

Jerry

minor

Slang for a German soldier, often used by the Tommies.

Corporal Wells

supporting

Also known as Wells

A corporal in the narrator's unit, a fellow soldier.

Yank

minor

Also known as Darby the Yank, Darby

Nickname for an American soldier, possibly the narrator or a comrade.

The Huns

minor

Also known as the Huns

Derogatory term for German soldiers used by the Allies.

Dinky

minor

A soldier or nickname in the trenches, possibly a comrade.

Issy

supporting

Also known as Issy Epstein, Epstein

A Jewish soldier in the narrator's unit, known for his humor.

Wellsie

minor

Also known as old Wellsie

A nickname for Corporal Wells, a close comrade.

Blighty

minor

Slang for Britain or a wound that sends a soldier home.

Boche

minor

Also known as a whaling big Boche, the Boche, The Boche

Derogatory French slang for a German soldier.

Captain Green

supporting

An officer commanding the narrator's company.

Garn

minor

A soldier or nickname, possibly a comrade with a distinctive voice.

Arry

minor

A soldier or nickname, possibly a Cockney comrade.

Bealer

minor

A soldier in the narrator's unit, possibly a friend.

Crane

minor

A soldier or officer mentioned in the narrative.

Lieutenant May

minor

Also known as Maria, The Lieutenant

A lieutenant in the British Army, possibly a friend of the narrator.

Smith

minor

A common surname for a soldier in the trenches.

Corporal Holmes

minor

A corporal in the narrator's battalion.

Private X

minor

An anonymous private soldier used as an example.

Bonesie

minor

A soldier with a nickname, possibly a medic or thin comrade.

Colonel Flowers

minor

A colonel commanding a brigade or battalion.

Sanford

minor

A soldier or officer mentioned in passing.

Miss Malin

minor

A woman mentioned in the narrator's letters or thoughts.

Jim

minor

A fellow soldier or friend of the narrator.

Millses

minor

A soldier or family name mentioned in the unit.

Rolfie

minor

A nickname for a soldier, possibly a German or comrade.

Corporal Collins

minor

Also known as Collins

A corporal in the narrator's company.

Bones

minor

A soldier with a nickname, possibly a medic.