# The British Regular Officer — Disenchantment character guide

> The British Regular Officer in Disenchantment by C. E. Montague.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0008-i

## Who they are

A type or representative figure of the professional British officer class.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as the idealized Old Army, held in high esteem by new recruits, though the chapter notes the Old Army's role in dampening the New Army's keenness.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/iii)

The sergeant-major, a representative of the Old Army, exploits the gilded youth's zeal for personal gain, embodying the cynical and corrupt side of the military hierarchy.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/iv)

Embodied by the major and colonel; their incompetence and self-regard are critiqued.

### [At Agincourt and Ypres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/iii-at-agincourt-and-ypres)

An officer tied to the staff and base due to head wounds, who speaks with aching desire to be with his men, illustrating the love some commanders felt but the troops could not perceive.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/ii)

An old Staff officer who laments the loss of leisurely administrative habits, such as not opening afternoon letters until the next day.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/iv)

Initially treated war correspondents as pariahs, but later recognized them as decent fellows and trusted them.

### [IX: Autumn Comes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/ix-autumn-comes)

An old Regular colonel comments that 'the war was settling down to peace conditions,' welcoming the return of pre-war social and professional hierarchies.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/ii)

An old Regular colonel remarks that 'the war was settling down to peace conditions,' glad that social hierarchies are being restored.

### [X: Autumn Tints in Chivalry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/x-autumn-tints-in-chivalry)

A one-legged subaltern maimed at Ypres who expresses disgust at Flaniganism and the trivialization of the enemy.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/ii)

A one-legged subaltern maimed at Ypres who criticizes a comic sketch of a German soldier.

### [XI: Stars in Their Courses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/xi-stars-in-their-courses)

Criticized for their prewar education and lack of mental nimbleness, contributing to tactical failures.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/iii)

The archetype of the average British officer, shaped by a system that prizes play over work, leading to tactical incompetence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/characters/british_regular_officer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/disenchantment_se/characters