# The Artilleryman — The War of the Worlds character guide

> The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0012-ix-the-fighting-begins

## Who they are

A shaken soldier who survives the Martian rout and later proposes a futile underground resistance scheme to the narrator.

## Relationships

### [Henderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/henderson)

_social_

Henderson and the Artilleryman meet briefly during the early stages of the invasion, sharing information about the Martian threat.

### [The Curate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/the_curate)

_social_

The Artilleryman and the Curate have a brief, tense meeting where the Artilleryman dismisses the Curate's religious hysteria.

### [Miss Elphinstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/miss_elphinstone)

_social_

Miss Elphinstone and the Artilleryman have a single, fleeting encounter during the evacuation, with no significant interaction.

### [Henderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/henderson)

_social_

Henderson and the Artilleryman meet briefly during the early stages of the invasion, sharing information about the Martian threat.

## In the story

### [XI: At the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xi-at-the-window)

A soldier who survives the Martian attack, recounts the Heat-Ray massacre and the destruction of Woking, and seeks refuge in the narrator's house.

### [XII: What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/xii-what-i-saw-of-the-destruction-of-weybridge-and-shepperton)

Accompanies the narrator, advises against immediate travel to Leatherhead, and proposes rejoining his battery in London.

### [The Man on Putney Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vii-the-man-on-putney-hill)

The artilleryman outlines his vision of an underground society, advocating for survival through secrecy, eugenics, and eventual rebellion.

### [Wreckage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ix-wreckage)

Referenced in memories of watching the dawn from the narrator's study.

### [X: The Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/x-the-epilogue)

Mentioned in the narrator's flashback to their journey through the hot, brooding silence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/the_artilleryman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters