A Yankee in the Trenches · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in A Yankee in the Trenches by Robert Derby Holmes.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
The Narrator
major
Also known as I, me, myself, mine, ye, our, we, us
An American who trades a comfortable Boston life for the King's shilling, only to find himself dodging shells and cooties in a British trench.
Tommy
supporting
Also known as The British Tommy, the British, British, the Tommy, A Tommy, The average Tommy, a Tommy, the Tommies, The Tommies
The British private soldier in the ranks—resigned, sardonic, and forever hunting cooties, tea, and a moment's safety between bombardments.
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 wealthy, classics-educated lieutenant whose colorless monotone and fanatical discipline make him the most hated officer in the company.
Kamarad
minor
A German prisoner or term used for surrendering enemy soldiers.
The Germans
supporting
Also known as Germans, the Germans
The enemy holding the sap beyond High Wood—two machine guns, a sunken road, and a lethal grip on ground the battalion must take.
Jerry
minor
Slang for a German soldier, often used by the Tommies.
Corporal Wells
supporting
Also known as Wells
A fellow corporal in the narrator's unit, sharing the march, the billets, and the endless small miseries of noncommissioned life.
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 whose humor and wit help carry the men through the grind of trench routine.
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
Captain Green sits at the top of the narrator's immediate chain of command, the officer whose word sends corporals trotting off to shoulder another man's rifle on a ninety-degree hike. His authority is absolute but impersonal: the men are tools to be kept functional, and complaints earn only a raised eyebrow and a reminder to set an example. He matters because he embodies the rigid machinery Holmes must navigate, the everyday discipline that grinds down soldiers long before the enemy does.
Garn
minor
A soldier or nickname, possibly a comrade with a distinctive voice.
Bealer
minor
A soldier in the narrator's unit, possibly a friend.
Crane
minor
A soldier or officer mentioned in the narrative.
Corporal Holmes
minor
A corporal in the narrator's battalion.
Bonesie
minor
A soldier with a nickname, possibly a medic or thin comrade.
Sanford
minor
A soldier or officer mentioned in passing.
Rolfie
minor
A nickname for a soldier, possibly a German or comrade.
Arry
minor
A soldier or nickname, possibly a Cockney comrade.
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.
Private X
minor
An anonymous private soldier used as an example.
Colonel Flowers
minor
A colonel commanding a brigade or battalion.
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.
Corporal Collins
minor
Also known as Collins
A corporal in the narrator's company.
Bones
minor
A soldier with a nickname, possibly a medic.
