Now It Can Be Told · Character

Poor Old Tommy Atkins

Slang for the common British soldier.

minor

Also known as Tommy Atkins

First appearance: i

Poor Old Tommy Atkins shows up with force in Part I: Observers and Commanders. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Representative of the common soldier; the narrator notes he could speak to Tommies as human beings due to the correspondents' civilian status.

In the storyPart I: Observers and CommandersOpen this moment free

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In Part I: Observers and Commanders: Representative of the common soldier; the narrator notes he could speak to Tommies as human beings due to the correspondents' civilian status. Later, in XV: Mentioned as the…

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See Poor Old Tommy Atkins in i

Character Web

15 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Miscellaneous characters, units, and references
Protagonist
Key military and civilian figures
British commanders and staff

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of anticipation a…

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In the story

Poor Old Tommy Atkins appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Part I: Observers and Commanders
Representative of the common soldier; the narrator notes he could speak to Tommies as human beings due to the correspondents' civilian status.
XV
Mentioned as the recipient of reliable food supply despite the chaos of war.
XVI
Representative of the common soldier, whose gallows humor and laughter serve as psychological armor against fear.
The Endless War
Representative of the British soldiers who, despite grousing and homesickness, march cheerfully back to the trenches.
XI
A cockney lad of the 47th Division is quoted expressing laughter and amazement at the tanks crushing German machine-guns.
XVII
British soldiers shown as kind and trusting, filling water bottles and guarding prisoners with minimal supervision.
V
Representative of the common soldier, drawing meager pay while facing death.
VII
Represents the common soldier who feels betrayed by the government and society, struggling to find work and meaning after the war.
VIII
Represents the common soldier, many of whom remained clean-hearted despite the horrors.

Chapter companion notes

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See Poor Old Tommy Atkins in i

See Poor Old Tommy Atkins in Part I: Observers and Commanders