The Wipers Times quotes

Question 1

The men find courage in companionship

Answer 1

• “the men laugh and cheer… they go over the top”
• A1, S14- “the men look scared… to reassure them Roberts begins…”

Question 2

Dutch courage

Answer 2

• “thirst aid post”
• “rum ration”
• “Dodd’s too young- I’ll have his”
• “Pearson protects the whiskey”
• “tis whiskey whiskey whiskey hands the courage which is dutch”
• “Is there time to give the boys a tot”

Question 3

A sense of duty leads them to courage

Answer 3

• Kate:”Are you going back?”, Roberts: “Of course”

Question 4

Coping mechanisms

Answer 4

• alcohol
• women
• the paper
• humour

Question 5

The paper as a coping mechanism

Answer 5

• Roberts is always “reading a page proof” amongst the chaos
• “I never fancied I’d be a publisher sir”- Tyler

Question 6

Fred’s poor physical condition in hospital

Answer 6

• “frail”
• “coughs and retches”
• “manages a half smile”
• “same old Fred”…“not quite”
• “fighting fit”
• “right as rain”

Question 7

Fred’s retiscence at the Ritz

Answer 7

• “Same old Fred”…“Not quite”
• “vilest disaster”
• “I’m afraid of coming back to you as a bloody hulk”
• “half a man”
• “cured of any illusions… about the pomp and glory of war”
• “rueful”

Question 8

The thirst aid post

Answer 8

• “Forester’s arms”
• “something had to be done. Especially after poor Henderson”
• “This seems incredibly efficient. I hope the staff don’t get a hold of it”
• “we are cracking down on the excess of alcohol at the front”- Howfield

Question 9

Mitford defending the men at the front

Answer 9

• “Humour is what separates civilisation from incivility”
• “Tommy Atkins decided what he sings, what he finds funny, and whether or not he wants to win the bloody war!”

Question 10

Fred’s military cross

Answer 10

• “bravery, gallantry and devotion to duty”
• “behaved most bravely”
• “outstanding leadership uner fire”

Question 11

Madame Fifi’s brothel

Answer 11

• “French bar, night”
• “EVERYONE must go there”
• “he sits at the table. She brings him champagne”
• A1, S12

Question 12

The ritz

Answer 12

• “oppulent splendour”
• A2,S2
• this is where he faces the reality of war

Question 13

Letters from home

Answer 13

• “a reminder of a land without the gas gong, whizz-bangs and minenwerfers”
• “mixed blessing”

Question 14

How are the trenches described?

Answer 14

• “foul conditions”
• “wallowing in a dirty ditch”
• “theatre of war”
• “sticking through the mud at various places you can see pieces of towns”

Question 15

Howfield’s attitudes to the paper and war

Answer 15

• “mutionous magazine”
• “poppycock”
• “downright insubordination”
• “maintain discipline in our army or the result is defeatism and anarchy”
• “the battlefield is not the place for humour”

Question 16

Lady Somersby’s views on alcohol

Answer 16

• “alcohol is undermining the war effort”
• “rum ration is a disgrace”
• “your army is drinking itself to defeat”
• “Mr Lloyd George specifically said, ‘we are fighting Germany, Austria and Drink. And the greatest of these foes is Drink!’”

Question 17

Mitford’s views on alcohol at the front

Answer 17

• “some of our medical officers are of the opinion that drinking is saving us from defeat”
• “I could do with a drink”- just as the Temperance Lady has left

Question 18

Horror/trauma/ fear

Answer 18

• “of the thirty two of our officers who left Blighty after training, just seven of us have survived”
• “General Mitford is reading very long casualty lists”
• “Warfare. Long periods of boredom punctated by sheer terror”
• “epic of futility… the flower of British manhood being hurled to a squalid death”
• “I’m afraid of coming back to you as a bloody hulk”

Question 19

Comradery

Answer 19

• “they laugh… they get to work”
• “now- you’re dead and I am mateless”
• A2,S4- Henderson’s funeral

Question 20

The loss of the printer

Answer 20

• “we’ve had a direct hit”
• “now I am really… unamused”
• “Hellfire corner, the most dangerous spot on the salient”… “which is why I already went and got it”