No More Parades · Chapter
IV explained
Tietjens deals with military bureaucracy, horse care, and the return of a draft, while grappling with the memory of O Nine Morgan and rumors of betrayal from Whitehall.
What happens
Tietjens deals with military bureaucracy, horse care, and the return of a draft, while grappling with the memory of O Nine Morgan and rumors of betrayal from Whitehall. He defends Canadian soldiers against military police harassment and learns of a transfer arranged by his brother Mark, which conflicts with his desire to stay at the front.
Themes in this chapter
- War and Its Psychological Toll
Tietjens is haunted by the memory of O Nine Morgan, feeling the dead as 'joined to your own identity by a black cord.'
- Bureaucracy and Military Incompetence
Tietjens deals with conflicting orders about horse care, a report on lecturing soldiers, and the provost-marshal's petty police.
- Betrayal and Trust
Rumors that Whitehall is starving the front of troops to sacrifice them for political ends, leading Tietjens to question Levin's inquiries.
Characters to notice
- Christopher Tietjens
Struggles with obsession over O Nine Morgan's death, deals with horse care and military discipline, and confronts rumors of betrayal from Whitehall.
- Captain McKechnie
Shares the hut with Tietjens, comments on the draft's return and political rumors about General Puffles.
- Sergeant-Major Cowley
Brings news of Tietjens' transfer to a horse depot, arranged by his brother Mark.
- Lieutenant Hotchkiss
Ordered Schomburg to be hardened against Tietjens' instructions, causing conflict.
- Girtin
Canadian private charged with conduct prejudicial to good order after a dispute with military police; Tietjens dismisses the charge.
- General O'Hara
Provost-marshal who loves his police; Tietjens expects a row with him over the Girtin case.
- Mark Tietjens
Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Transport who arranged Tietjens' transfer to a horse depot.
- Valentine Wannop
Tietjens imagines her despair if he rejects the transfer she begged Mark to arrange.
Key passages
“What the hell, what the hell is the matter with this horse?”
Tietjens asks his orderly why Schomburg is moving so poorly.
Tietjens discovers Hotchkiss countermanded his orders to keep the horse warm.
“If the fellows in Whitehall are determined to do old Puffles in, why don't they recall him?”
McKechnie suggests the government is deliberately causing a general's failure.
Reflects the rumor that civilian leaders are starving the front of troops.
“That obscene Pitkins! I'll have him cashiered for this”
Tietjens angrily blames Pitkins for the draft's return.
Tietjens wakes to find the draft has been called back, increasing his despair.
