A Yankee in the Trenches · Chapter
XIII: Back on the Somme Again explained
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.
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.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the soldiers c…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes 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.
Characters to notice
- 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 passages
“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.
