# Sergeant-Major Cowley — No More Parades character guide

> Sergeant-Major Cowley in No More Parades by Ford Madox Ford.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cowley, Major Cowley, Lieutenant Cowley, Old Cowley

**First appearance:** 0001-no-more-parades

## Snapshot

The battalion's weathered senior NCO, who keeps the draft moving, the men counted, and the worst of the war at a professional distance.

## Who they are

Cowley is the practical spine of Tietjens' unit, translating chaos — a Canadian draft that stampedes at its first German plane — into something like order. He reports the men's panic without contempt and their jokes without sentiment, saying only 'Poor boys!' as they go up the line. His dry competence and oblique humour make him the one figure in the hut who seems to know exactly what everything costs.

## Relationships

### [Christopher Tietjens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/characters/christopher_tietjens)

_professional_

Cowley is Tietjens' dependable and loyal non-commissioned officer, managing the unit's practical affairs with competence.

### [Christopher Tietjens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/characters/christopher_tietjens)

_professional_

Cowley is Tietjens' dependable and loyal non-commissioned officer, managing the unit's practical affairs with competence.

## In the story

### [No More Parades Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/chapters/no-more-parades)

Interrogated by Sylvia, involved in the unit's operations.

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

Loyal NCO who manages the runners and tries to maintain order in the hut.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Brings news of Tietjens' transfer to a horse depot, arranged by his brother Mark.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/chapters/part-ii-ii)

Drunkenly advises Sylvia, shares stories about his wife, shows concern for Tietjens.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/characters/sergeant_major_cowley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/no_more_parades_se/characters