# Tommy — A Yankee in the Trenches character guide

> Tommy in A Yankee in the Trenches by Robert Derby Holmes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** The British Tommy, the British, British, the Tommy, A Tommy, The average Tommy, a Tommy, the Tommies, The Tommies

**First appearance:** 0004-i-joining-the-british-army

## Who they are

The British private soldier in the ranks—resigned, sardonic, and forever hunting cooties, tea, and a moment's safety between bombardments.

## Relationships

### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator and Tommy share a close bond as comrades in the trenches, relying on each other for survival and mutual support.

### [Corporal Wells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/corporal_wells)

_professional_

Corporal Wells and Tommy have a military superior-subordinate relationship, with Wells giving orders to Tommy.

### [Garn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/garn)

_friendship_

Garn and Tommy are fellow soldiers and friends, sharing the bond of trench warfare and mutual reliance.

### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator and Tommy share a close bond as comrades in the trenches, relying on each other for survival and mutual support.

### [Garn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/garn)

_friendship_

Garn and Tommy are fellow soldiers and friends, sharing the bond of trench warfare and mutual reliance.

### [Corporal Wells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/corporal_wells)

_professional_

Corporal Wells and Tommy have a military superior-subordinate relationship, with Wells giving orders to Tommy.

## 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 British soldiers with whom the narrator serves and shares the trench experience.

### [Joining the British Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/i-joining-the-british-army)

Implied as the British soldier identity the narrator adopts after joining.

### [II: Going In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/ii-going-in)

The British soldiers in the dugout, grousing and sharing songs and memories of Blighty.

### [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)

Engages in cootie hunts, jokes about the cootie's size, and teases the narrator at the estaminet.

### [V: Feeding the Tommies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/v-feeding-the-tommies)

The British soldier whose diet, smoking habits, and scrappy nature over rations are central to the chapter.

### [Hiking to Vimy Ridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/vi-hiking-to-vimy-ridge)

Referred to as a great accumulator of junk, and the trenches are called 'Grouse Spots' by the Tommies.

### [Bits of Blighty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xv-bits-of-blighty)

Used in the expression 'going to the pictures' for undergoing an anesthetic; also refers to British soldiers generally.

### [Suggestions for "Sammy"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xvi-suggestions-for-sammy)

Referenced as the typical British soldier who shares parcels and benefits from the suggested items.

### [Glossary of Army Slang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/glossary-of-army-slang)

Referenced as the user of the slang, e.g., 'Tommy's way of saying' and 'Tommy has borrowed from Fritz'.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/characters/tommy
- 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