# The Narrator — A Yankee in the Trenches character guide > The Narrator in A Yankee in the Trenches by Robert Derby Holmes. **Role:** major **Also known as:** I, me, myself, mine, ye, our, we, us **First appearance:** 0003-a-yankee-in-the-trenches ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Tommy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/tommy) _friendship_ The narrator and Tommy share a close bond as comrades in the trenches, relying on each other for survival and mutual support. ### [The Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/germans) _rivalry_ The Germans are the enemy force opposing the narrator, engaging in combat and constant threat during the war. ### [Mad Harry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/mad_harry) _friendship_ Mad Harry is a fellow soldier and friend of the narrator, known for his reckless or eccentric behavior in the trenches. ### [Yank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/yank) _friendship_ The narrator and Yank share a camaraderie as fellow Americans or allies, bonding over shared experiences in the war. ### [Kamarad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/kamarad) _rivalry_ Kamarad represents German soldiers surrendering or calling out, creating a tense dynamic of capture or deception with the narrator. ### [Boche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/boche) _rivalry_ Boche is a derogatory term for German soldiers, indicating a hostile enemy relationship with the narrator. ### [Jerry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/jerry) _rivalry_ Jerry is a slang term for German soldiers, representing the adversarial enemy force the narrator fights against. ### [Crane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/crane) _friendship_ Crane is a fellow soldier and companion of the narrator, sharing the hardships and dangers of trench warfare. ### [Bonesie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/bonesie) _friendship_ Bonesie is a comrade in arms with the narrator, likely a medic or tough soldier, providing support in the field. ### [Garn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/garn) _friendship_ Garn is a fellow soldier and friend of the narrator, part of the close-knit unit enduring the war together. ### [The Huns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/huns) _rivalry_ The Huns is a derogatory term for Germans, emphasizing the narrator's adversarial and hostile relationship with the enemy. ### [Corporal Wells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/corporal_wells) _professional_ Corporal Wells is a non-commissioned officer who interacts with the narrator in a military chain-of-command relationship. ## In the story ### [A Yankee in the Trenches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/a-yankee-in-the-trenches) The American protagonist who serves with the British Army, providing a first-hand account of trench warfare. ### [Joining the British Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/i-joining-the-british-army) The central figure who enlists in the British Army, undergoes training, and is transferred to France. ### [II: Going In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/ii-going-in) Arrives at the front, experiences the dugout, sings 'Tyke Me Back to Blighty', and volunteers for a raid. ### [III: A Trench Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/iii-a-trench-raid) Participates in the raid as a bayonet man, kills a German soldier, and narrowly avoids a bomb. ### [IV: A Few Days’ Rest in Billets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/iv-a-few-days-rest-in-billets) Describes the rest in billets, cootie hunts, and his attempts to flirt with a mademoiselle at the estaminet, earning the nickname 'Darby the Yank.' ### [V: Feeding the Tommies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/v-feeding-the-tommies) Lance corporal responsible for issuing rations, describes the burden of the role and his popularity from receiving cigarette supplies. ### [Hiking to Vimy Ridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/vi-hiking-to-vimy-ridge) Volunteers for a dangerous patrol, carries excess souvenirs, and endures the exhausting hike and shelling. ### [VII: Fascination of Patrol Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/vii-fascination-of-patrol-work) Describes his fascination with patrol work and recounts personal experiences. ### [On the Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/viii-on-the-go) Describes his own struggles with trench fever and the burdens of being a corporal on the march. ### [IX: First Sight of the Tanks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/ix-first-sight-of-the-tanks) Recovers from trench fever, rejoins battalion at Mill Street, experiences tear gas and a bomb accident, leads men under fire, and sees the first tanks. ### [X: Following the Tanks Into Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/x-following-the-tanks-into-battle) Leads a group of prisoners to the rear, survives shrapnel, and later fights with Australian troops before rejoining his battalion. ### [XI: Prisoners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xi-prisoners) The narrator escorts prisoners, bandages Crane, and reflects on the treatment of German captives. ### [XII: I Become a Bomber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xii-i-become-a-bomber) Promoted to bomber against his will, leads a bombing party, survives being buried by a shell, and later returns to the front after a rest week. ### [XIII: Back on the Somme Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xiii-back-on-the-somme-again) Rejoins battalion, leads burial fatigue, carries Dinky mascot, commands platoon before attack. ### [XIV: The Last Time Over the Top](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xiv-the-last-time-over-the-top) Leads the charge after officers are killed, is wounded, and evacuated to England. ### [Bits of Blighty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xv-bits-of-blighty) The narrator recounts his evacuation to England, medical treatment, and eventual discharge from the army. ### [Suggestions for "Sammy"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xvi-suggestions-for-sammy) Provides first-hand advice based on his own experiences, including switching from pipe to cigarettes and writing many letters. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters