# III: Before the Push explained — Memoirs of an Infantry Officer

> Chapter companion for Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon.

## What happens

Sherston returns from leave, spending time with Aunt Evelyn and Captain Huxtable before heading back to the Front. He reflects on the impending Push, the strain on the troops, and his own psychological state as he prepares for battle. The chapter captures the tension between domestic peace and the looming violence of war, as well as the camaraderie and unspoken fears among the officers.

## Themes in this chapter

### Psychological Strain and Survival

Sherston reflects on the mental toll of the war, noting how boys under twenty stand it worst and how officers who 'crumple up' are sent home, while private soldiers have no such escape.

### Soldier Comradeship and Civilian Alienation

The gap between soldiers and civilians is highlighted through Sherston's interactions with Aunt Evelyn and Captain Huxtable, who cannot fully understand the front-line experience.

### Dehumanization and Animal Instinct

Sherston observes that trench life is 'saturated by the external senses' and that 'animal instincts were always uppermost,' reflecting the dehumanizing conditions of the war.

### Nostalgia for Peacetime England

The chapter is filled with images of domestic peace—Aunt Evelyn's garden, the rooks cawing, the black Persian cat—contrasting sharply with the impending violence.

## Character check-ins

### Aunt Evelyn

Sherston spends his last evening at home with her, playing cribbage and trying to maintain normalcy despite the impending return to war.

### Captain Huxtable

An old friend who hosts Sherston for tea; he expresses his views on conscription and the war effort, while Sherston puts on a brave face.

### Barton

Sherston's fellow officer, who is pessimistic about commanding a company in open warfare despite the brandy and Kinjack's confidence.

### Colonel Kinjack

The commanding officer, full of confidence about the upcoming attack and the French holding at Verdun.

### Sergeant Miles

Sherston's platoon sergeant, who hasn't been himself since the raid and has been in France for nearly a year.

### The Doctor

Present at the dinner at Battalion Headquarters, looking thoughtful about the upcoming battle.

### Popsy

Aunt Evelyn's grey parrot, which seems less aware of the war than anyone else and is a source of comfort during Sherston's last evening.

## Key lines

> I gave him to understand that it was a jolly fine life out at the Front, and, for the moment, I probably believed what I was saying.

Sherston tells Captain Huxtable that life at the front is great, and for a moment he convinces himself it's true.

_This shows Sherston's internal conflict and his attempt to maintain a positive facade for those at home._

> But could this sort of thing be measured by ordinary time, I wondered (as I lay on a bunk wishing to God Barton would stop blowing on his spectacles, which surely didn’t need all that polishing).

Sherston questions whether the war's effects can be measured in normal time, while being annoyed by Barton's habit of polishing his spectacles.

_This highlights the psychological strain and the trivial irritations that become magnified in the trenches._

> I could never understand how they managed to keep as cheery as they did through such drudgery and discomfort, with nothing to look forward to but going over the top or being moved up to Flanders again.

Sherston marvels at the resilience of the men, who remain cheerful despite the drudgery and the prospect of future battles.

_This reflects on the comradeship and endurance of the soldiers._

> Courage, I argued, is a beautiful thing, and next week’s attack is what I have been waiting for since I first joined the army. I am happy tonight, and I don’t suppose I’ll be dead in a month’s time.

Sherston tries to convince himself that courage is beautiful and that he's been waiting for this attack, feeling happy and unlikely to die soon.

_This shows Sherston's attempt to rationalize the danger and find meaning in the upcoming battle._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iii-before-the-push
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters