Chapter 8: Fourteen minutes past two.
1. Paragraph 5 ("The boots they gave us ... in class together"). What information does this paragraph give you about soldiers in the Great War?
Background information to further reading: (scroll down for question 2)
Background information to further reading: (scroll down for question 2)
"After men joined the army they were sent to local army camps to be turned into soldiers. As experienced officers were needed in France to organise the war against the Germans, elderly people were bought out of retirement to train the men. These men were often over the age of sixty. Most of the officers were recruited from universities and public schools. Sometimes men became officers without even an interview. George Gillet was offered a
commission while playing cricket with a colonel. Gillet was told that any of his friends that he wanted to bring with him from Harrow could also have a
commission. Training camps rarely had enough huts for men. Most of the recruits had to sleep in tents. Conditions in these tents in winter were appalling and there were several examples of soldiers going on strike. Eventually it was decided to billet the men in local towns and villages."
commission while playing cricket with a colonel. Gillet was told that any of his friends that he wanted to bring with him from Harrow could also have a
commission. Training camps rarely had enough huts for men. Most of the recruits had to sleep in tents. Conditions in these tents in winter were appalling and there were several examples of soldiers going on strike. Eventually it was decided to billet the men in local towns and villages."
2. Chapter 8 mainly relates the story of the confrontation between Charlie and Sergeant Hanley. As we know, Molly asked Charlie to write her letters to tell her how he was getting on. Write a letter to Molly, from Charlie, in which he recounts his encounter with Sergeant Hanley (200-250 words).