# Yank — A Yankee in the Trenches character guide

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

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Darby the Yank, Darby

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

## Who they are

Nickname for an American soldier, possibly the narrator or a comrade.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

The narrator and Yank share a camaraderie as fellow Americans or allies, bonding over shared experiences in the war.

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

_friendship_

The narrator and Yank share a camaraderie as fellow Americans or allies, bonding over shared experiences in the war.

## 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 narrator's nickname, highlighting his American identity among British soldiers.

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

The narrator is initially rejected by a sergeant who calls him 'Yank' and refuses to enlist him as a neutral.

### [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)

Nicknamed 'Darby the Yank' by the Tommies after they discover his middle name is Derby; he is the narrator himself.

### [On the Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/viii-on-the-go)

The American narrator, who engages in debates about the Civil War with Sanford and exchanges greetings with a Texan singer during a night march.

### [XIII: Back on the Somme Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_yankee_in_the_trenches_se/chapters/xiii-back-on-the-somme-again)

Called 'Darby' by the men; orders removal of a German leg from a body during burial fatigue.

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

Implied through the term 'Sammy' (American soldier) and the general advice for soldiers overseas.

## Links

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