The Infantrymen

"The man on watch straightened up, eyes searching for the source of the gunshot, his person as grey as the scene he surveyed. Dirt stained his face and hands which scrubbing could not remove and the hair beneath his soldier’s cap was thick with it. A raised line ran halfway across his face; a souvenir gained during his first shift at the front. He had since seen shrapnel do much worse. The disfiguration to his face was the least of his worries. French mud was thick and deep and stuck his boots to his feet, and the lice that found their way into the men’s clothing ensured they never rested."

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So I would like to introduce you to the key characters of NYDN. The book is split into three viewpoints - an infantry platoon, a tank crew and two nurses. This post will focus on the infantrymen.

The plot revolves around Ben Stack, a private of the Royal West Kent regiment, and his friends as they struggle to come to terms with the realities of war. We follow the men as they react to the horrors around them; each with their own way of coping and all supported by the friendship and bravery of others in the platoon.

Key characters:

Ben Stack: After growing up on a tenant farm with two highly competitive older brothers, Stack learned from an early age that there is no use in trying to be the best when so many are already battling for this spot. He is content to go through life making the best of what he has and not wishing for more. Not convinced that he is capable of following his own path, or earning the affections of his childhood friend, Stack is thrown out of his comfort zone when he finds that, in the world of shells and mud, there are people who rely on him for their lives.

Dan Captain: A handsome and eccentric man, Captain becomes Stack's best friend in the platoon, helping him to stay positive in the face of so much death and insisting that Stack is meant to be more than just a private. Charming to the limits (and often beyond them), he was a scoundrel before the war - fond of women, drink and breaking the rules - and he carries this persona with him to the trenches, much to the irritation of the company commander. With his jokes and energy, he is an important source of morale to the platoon, leading them in marching songs and giving them a new perspective on their situation. He is particularly important to Stack, being the first person who not only believes he can be more than he is, but also actively encourages it.

Albie Rigby: A friend of Stack and Captain's, Rigby represents the 'ordinary man'. Though his real love is art and inventing, he worked behind a bar before the war in order to earn enough to woo his girl. He also joined the army to impress her though, judging by her picture, Captain doesn't think she's worth it. In matters not concerning his girl, Rigby is very realistic - he knows he may die any day and makes no attempt to deceive himself. This can make him appear less brave than his friends, as he sees the true peril of their situation.

James Sandford: A well-commended prefect at school, Sandford's plan was always to graduate university, however the war intervened and he received his first commission of second lieutenant while still just a boy. Due to his age and his sheltered higher-class upbringing, he believes that everybody should be proud to fight for their country and cowards should not be tolerated - but this is before he experiences the first day of the Somme offensive. Despite the vast class divide between him and his men, he feels a great affection for them and does his best to ensure he is not treated as superior beyond the requirement of his duties.

William Wayson: Wayson was a glory-hungry boy of 16 when he enlisted, believing - as many did - that despite his age he was ready for whatever the Hun could throw at him. A friend of Stack's missing nephew, Rob, the older man takes Wayson under his wing, teaching him how best to survive and going out of his way to ensure the boy's safety. In this sense, Wayson is awarded a privilege that Sandford is not; though both young when they joined the army, Sandford must grow up fast with the responsibility of a whole platoon on his shoulders. While Wayson must also harden himself to play his part in the team and face a world of corpses and vermin, he has the small comfort of somebody to rely on, rather than having four dozen men relying on him. Like Sandford, Wayson enters the trenches naive of the reality of war and intent on doing the right thing - which is synonymous with the brave thing.

A quick note on the book's progress - I am up to Chapter 9 (of 18) in detailed editing, so about halfway through, though there are specific areas I want to go back and have a final look at before I'm done. With Christmas coming up and time off work, I am hoping to increase my pace this month and be ready to start looking at cover letters and synopses for submission in February. Fingers crossed!

I will post more about the tank crew key characters soon, please keep reading!

Cheers,

Harry