# Barton — Memoirs of an Infantry Officer character guide

> Barton in Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old man Barton, God Barton, poor old Barton, Old man Barton, old Barton, shortsighted Barton

**First appearance:** 0000-i-at-the-army-school

## Snapshot

A capable, ambitious officer whose planned trench raid becomes the narrator's private obsession and a test of who gets to prove himself.

## Who they are

Barton is the officer who organizes the raid on the German wire and hopes to win a D.S.O. for his executive ability. When the narrator learns that Birdie Mansfield, not he, will lead the raiding party, his jealousy and thwarted ambition flare into a private crisis. Barton's raid is the hinge on which the narrator's hunger for a Military Cross—and his reckoning with fear—turns.

## Relationships

### [The Irish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/the_irish)

_rivalry_

Barton and The Irish have a contentious relationship, possibly due to cultural or personal clashes in the military setting.

### [Birdie Mansfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/birdie_mansfield)

_romantic_

Barton and Birdie Mansfield have a romantic connection, with Barton showing affection and interest in Birdie.

### [Flook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/flook)

_friendship_

Barton and Flook are friends and allies, likely supporting each other in the military environment.

### [The Irish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/the_irish)

_rivalry_

Barton and The Irish have a contentious relationship, possibly due to cultural or personal clashes in the military setting.

### [Birdie Mansfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/birdie_mansfield)

_romantic_

Barton and Birdie Mansfield have a romantic connection, with Barton showing affection and interest in Birdie.

### [Flook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/flook)

_friendship_

Barton and Flook are friends and allies, likely supporting each other in the military environment.

## In the story

### [I: At the Army School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/i-at-the-army-school)

Sees Sherston off at the crossroads, calling him a 'Lucky Kangaroo'.

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

Sees Sherston off at the crossroads, cheerful and calls him 'Lucky Kangaroo'.

### [II: The Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ii-the-raid)

Company commander, hoping for a D.S.O. from the raid.

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

Old man Barton, dining at Battalion Headquarters, hoping for a D.S.O. from the raid.

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

Company commander in reserve at 71 North; due for leave next week.

### [III: Before the Push](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iii-before-the-push)

Sherston's fellow officer, who is pessimistic about commanding a company in open warfare despite the brandy and Kinjack's confidence.

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

Returned from leave, depressed, and grumbling about the contrast with home.

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

A fellow officer who shares rumors about the upcoming operations and receives a bottle of brandy from the narrator.

### [IV: Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iv-battle)

Issued a written order for the narrator to return, and later expressed pity for the incoming Welsh troops.

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

Company commander; brings news of wire-cutting, shows concern for the men.

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

Present in the dugout during the bombardment, later observes the battle with the narrator.

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

Issues a written order for the narrator to return, which is disregarded; later expresses pity for the doomed attackers.

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

Writing a letter to his wife, sharing a fondness for Shropshire, and enjoying the lavish meal in Amiens.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/v)

Reported wounded in the shoulder during the first attack of the Battle of Bazentin Ridge.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/barton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters