# Poor Old Tommy Atkins — Now It Can Be Told character guide

> Poor Old Tommy Atkins in Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Tommy Atkins

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Who they are

Slang for the common British soldier.

## In the story

### [Part I: Observers and Commanders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xv)

Mentioned as the recipient of reliable food supply despite the chaos of war.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvi)

Representative of the common soldier, whose gallows humor and laughter serve as psychological armor against fear.

### [The Endless War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xix)

Representative of the British soldiers who, despite grousing and homesickness, march cheerfully back to the trenches.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xi)

A cockney lad of the 47th Division is quoted expressing laughter and amazement at the tanks crushing German machine-guns.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xvii)

British soldiers shown as kind and trusting, filling water bottles and guarding prisoners with minimal supervision.

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

Representative of the common soldier, drawing meager pay while facing death.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/vii)

Represents the common soldier who feels betrayed by the government and society, struggling to find work and meaning after the war.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/viii)

Represents the common soldier, many of whom remained clean-hearted despite the horrors.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters/poor_old_tommy_atkins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/characters