# Durley — Memoirs of an Infantry Officer character guide > Durley in Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Julian, Julian, Julian Durley **First appearance:** 0000-i-at-the-army-school ## Snapshot A steady fellow officer and friend, whose quiet account of a shattered battalion and a broken comrade gives the war its human cost. ## Who they are Durley is the narrator's tent-mate and a survivor of the attack at Guillemont, where his battalion 'did all that was expected of it' and was destroyed. He tells the story simply, with unconscious gestures, and his visit to the wounded young Fernby in hospital haunts the narrator. He matters as the memoir's moral witness: the man who has seen the nightmare and can still speak of it plainly. ## Relationships ### [Young Fernby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/young_fernby) _friendship_ Durley and Young Fernby share a close bond, likely as fellow soldiers and companions in the trenches. ### [David Cromlech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/david_cromlech) _friendship_ David Cromlech and Durley are close friends and fellow officers, sharing experiences and camaraderie in the war. ### [David Cromlech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/david_cromlech) _friendship_ David Cromlech and Durley are close friends and fellow officers, sharing experiences and camaraderie in the war. ### [Young Fernby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/young_fernby) _friendship_ Durley and Young Fernby share a close bond, likely as fellow soldiers and companions in the trenches. ## In the story ### [II: The Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ii-the-raid) Muttering in his sleep, a fellow officer. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/i) Old Julian, asleep in the room, muttering in his sleep about the war. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iii) Companion in the dugout, receives the farewell letter, wishes luck. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ii) An officer who joins the mess and discusses the Brigadier's criticism of Fewnings' shirt. ### [IV: Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iv-battle) Mentioned as one of the narrator's companions in camp, described as kind and sensitive. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/i) Left behind in reserve; accompanies narrator on preliminary errand. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iv) Reading 'Great Expectations' and putting in a mild plea for Stoke Newington, his home. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/v) Accompanies the narrator to inspect the old front-line and German trenches, engaging in mischievous destruction of abandoned ammunition. ### [Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/v-escape) Writes to the protagonist about the Battalion's movements and visits him in the hospital. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/i) Visits the narrator in the hospital and jokes about how well he looks, later commenting on Cromlech's death. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/iii) Reported badly wounded in the attack at Ginchy; also wrote a letter to the narrator about the Battalion's movements. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ii) Provides a detailed account of the Delville Wood attack, wounded in the throat, and dines with the narrator in Liverpool. ### [IX: Hospital and Convalescence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ix-hospital-and-convalescence) Meets the narrator in London; retains a haunted look and hoarse whisper from the Delville Wood attack, sharing old jokes but avoiding serious discussion. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/ii) Met in London; has a hoarse whisper from a fractured thyroid cartilage, haunted look, and is trying to join the Flying Corps. ### [X: Independent Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/x-independent-action) Mentioned as someone Sherston considers sending his statement to, expecting sympathy. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/chapters/v) Considered by Sherston as someone sensible and sympathetic to whom he might send his statement. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_an_infantry_officer_se/characters/durley - 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