The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor Quotes

“You won’t be moaning about it when Fritz sends a few over, you’ll be trying to climb inside it then,’ the older man replied. ‘I’d rather climb inside…”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Well what did the quack say?' Ed asked, sitting up from the ground. 'Said he was amazed I could still carry on at all, offered me a one stop ticket home, but I refused.' 'Like buggery he did,' Ed said. 'Surprised you've not been put in front of a wall and shot you malingering toad,' Williams said.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Why you think they've given us so much?' Harry asked between mouthfuls. 'They were expecting more of us,' Williams replied. The realisation struck him that over half the men who had marched out were no longer present. He realised that the cooks had provided food for the whole battalion. They were being given the portions of those who had not made it.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Has anyone seen Francis?' Harry asked. The men of the section looked at each other. He was gone, he thought, picturing his friends face days before when he had talked so calmly of his own demise. He had known he was going to die. Harry wondered what cold bravery a man needed to possess to go forwards uncomplaining knowing that it would be his end.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“man fell in front of him and he fell into a heap onto the soldiers writhing form. He could feel his hands wet with blood and for a split second he panicked wondering where he had been hit, then he noticed the man below him and the blood frothing darkly from his chest.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Harry passed close next to a man. He stopped for a second to look at him certain that the soldier was alive for he was sat cross legged looking back at the British lines, his kilt over his knees and his hands tucked into his lap. As the sight grew clearer Harry gasped with revulsion as in the faint glow of the distant fires he could see that the man's hands were clenched over shining black entrails, like coiled eels bursting from the sightless soldier.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“I can't take this. Look you're just overreacting. We all think we're goin' to get the chop, but you can't know that you will. It's a bloody gamble. I reckon you should just hang on to things for in a day or two you'll soon be feeling your old self again,' Harry said the words flatly but he did not believe them. Looking at his friend he felt certain that he was looking at a dead man. The thought was terrifying, but he felt just as Jones had stated; that his friend would die in the coming fight, the feeling was one of calm certainty as if it was already irreversibly ordained.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“The fight ahead played across his mind but not as insistently as the rumbling of his stomach or the stone in his boot which kept disappearing only to ambush another part of his foot.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“I'd rather stay here,' Ed replied, staring at a young farm girl who was looking out from behind a building at the soldiers. 'She'd run a mile if you went near her,' Williams said. 'That's alright, I'm used to running,' Ed replied.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Yow should stay in with me,' Fred said. 'Peacetime soldiering must be a doddle.' 'They'll send you to some bloody swamp out east where you'll rot away getting eaten by bloody bugs as big as your arse,' Ed scoffed. 'Fred'll feel right at home in a swamp,' Walter muttered.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Let's get her outside,' Charlton said, motioning with his hands to the door. The woman stepped outside and saw the Germans lined up on the road. Her face turned red and she began to talk faster, her hands on her hips as she spat at the prisoners. 'We should give her a rifle and put her in the company,' Williams said, watching as the woman berated the Germans who shrank back from her anger. 'Take care of the prisoners and see that this woman is, ah,' Charlton paused, searching for the right word. 'Safe.' 'I wouldn't fear for her sir, it's poor old Fritz I'm worried about,' Williams replied, laughing as the woman slapped the short German, sending his glasses spiralling to the floor. 'Indeed,' Charlton said, turning and hurrying back along the road to the village.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Will they do you?' Williams asked. 'Yes, sergeant, they're just the ticket.' 'Good, you might actually be able to hit something with them on.' 'He couldn't hit the floor if he fell over,' Walter grumbled, his lips chewing the stem of his large pipe.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Made a friend have you?' Ed asked, as Harry dropped into line beside him. 'I couldn't leave the poor thing tied to that cart could I?' 'Well it looks like you're stuck with it now,' Walter said, smiling as the dog trotted after the soldiers, its tail wagging happily. 'What are you doing with that bloody mutt, we've already got one dumb animal to look after and his name is Fred,' Williams said, patting the animal fondly on the head. 'I bet the dog has got less fleas than Fred,' Jones said. 'Aye, and he smells better,' Ed added.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“I could though,' Fred persisted stubbornly. 'You're no pug, but you look like one, the best thing you can do for us is to go into the ring and get the shit knocked out of you,' Williams said. 'I'll see if I can suggest it to Lieutenant Charlton, he seems mad about sport so it should be right up his street.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“How are the other sections set up?' 'No trouble there, Fred's mob worship the big bugger, they've already dug up half of the riverbank and Ed's lot are terrified of him so they're working just as hard.' 'Good, let's just hope they find the other platoons soon so we can get on with it.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“You were on about getting strafed.' 'Oh, right, anyway, the point is Fritz will put shells where he thinks we're likely to be, so if you can, avoid those places. That's why we're digging away from the river bank.' Harry smiled encouragingly and the young soldiers stared back at him, their expressions unchanging. 'Now, what we'll do is dig scrapes, don't bother making a trench, a good deep hole is as good as a trench any day of the week and what's more, it's harder for Fritz to spot from a balloon or aeroplane, a well dug trench can be seen from miles away in the air, so don't...' 'Will "Eight" and "Nine" platoons have aeroplanes?' David asked. Harry swore and took a long breath, feeling his collar growing tight as he pushed down his irritation. 'No, they will not have aeroplanes,' Harry said slowly. The gathered men began to laugh and Harry looked to Walter and Jones for help.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“What if we're in a town?' David asked. 'What about it?' Harry replied. 'You said to avoid buildings, so what if we're in a town?' 'If I didn't know that you were a thick bugger I'd think you were doing this just to annoy me.' 'I'm sorry, corporal,' David replied. 'Not as much as I am.' 'I said we should try and get him sent to a Stokes mortar battery,' Walter said.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Jesus, but I'll have no teeth left at this rate,' David slurred. 'If you get a few more pegs knocked out then it might stop that annoying whistle. I'd be happy to help you with it,' Walter said. 'How did you lose 'em?' One of the freckled soldiers asked. 'Fritz,' David said, his chest puffing out. 'I wish he'd done a better bloody job of it, we'd all have more peace then. It's a pity you didn't lose your tongue.' Walter grunted, tipping his helmet forward and closing his eyes.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Alright, come on you lot,' Harry said, motioning to the canvas covered flap at the rear of the vehicle. He removed the pin that held the tailgate in place and the section scrambled awkwardly into the back of the lorry. 'I can't get up corporal,' David gasped, his leg half in the vehicle and his body hanging over the side. The men already inside began to laugh and jeer. 'For fucks sake, do I have to do bloody everything for you?' Harry asked, grabbing the young man by the leg and tipping him into the vehicle.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Look, I'm warning you, keep away from that bloody farm,' Williams said, pointing a finger at Fred. He shook his head and sighed. 'It was the blackest day of my life when they made you a corporal.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“My lads know how to work hard, that's all there is to it, isn't that right?' Fred asked, looking at his weary section who were trudging beside him on the road, their faces grey with fatigue. 'Yes corporal,' a youth with a thin moustache said, his voice nervous as he looked up at the big man. 'There yow are see, best section in the platoon they are.' 'Give it time, they haven't picked up any of your bad habits yet,' Williams replied. 'In a week they'll be good for fuck all.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Leave them alone you daft bugger, your ugly mug is upsetting 'em,' Williams said.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Damn it all.' He cursed, kicking a mess tin across the room. 'Here, that's mine,' Fred protested. 'I couldn't give two fucks,' Williams snapped. He stepped towards Fred and leaned over him, his finger outstretched. 'God help me, but...' The sergeant's face went bright purple as he stared at the big man. 'Fuck it,' he squeaked, turning away, his head shaking back and forward as he muttered to himself. 'I don't know what's got into him,' Fred said, scratching at his chin.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“The poor, stupid fool,' Williams said, cupping his face with his hands. 'What's that supposed to mean?' Fred asked, his voice defensive. 'What do I mean?' Williams exclaimed, his voice echoing off the rafters. 'What I mean is that you're about as useless as a drunken Frenchman with no thumbs. You're a walking bloody disaster and now you're being put in charge of the Lewis gun section.' 'Captain Elwyn said I was perfect for the role. He said I was just the man for the job,' Fred replied, puffing out his chest with pride. 'Bloody Taffy would be right for the job, why the hell has he given it to you?' 'Because, Taffy never went on that course at the Lewis gun school at Bouchon,' Fred said, smiling smugly. 'You spent half that course drunk and the other half locked up.' 'I still know more about it than, Taffy.' 'I don't want any stripes, you can keep them away from me,' Jones said. 'I should say something,' Williams exclaimed, his voice hesitant.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“What did the captain want with you?' Ed asked. Fred said nothing as he sat down. His face wearing a puzzled expression as he pushed a cigarette between his lips and lit a match. 'Well, what's the matter with you man?' Jones asked. 'Nothing,' Fred replied, staring at the cigarette burning between his fingers. 'What are they charging you with?' Williams asked. 'Nothing,' Fred said again, his voice monotone. 'What is up with you then?' 'The captain has made me a corporal,' Fred said. 'You,' Williams shouted, stepping several paces back as if struck by a heavy hammer. 'I'm in charge of the Lewis gun section, when they arrive that is,' Fred said, his words drawn out with disbelief. 'There must be some bloody mistake,' Williams said, staring at Fred with a look of horror in his eyes.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“They'll have some rations up soon, the captain said so,' Fred stated adamantly, his face staring at the road as if expecting to see the food appear. 'You believe everything you're told, don't you?' 'If we don't get something soon we'll be fit for nothing come the morning.' 'A bit of hunger is good for you, now keep digging,' Williams replied. 'Bloody slave driver,”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“Leave 'em to it, we have done our bit,' Jones said, rubbing his hands together. 'I could sleep for a bastard week.' 'You'll be able to sleep all you like when you're dead,' Ed replied. 'I thought I bloody was when that fucking trench wall came in on me.' 'We should have left you there, we wouldn't have to listen to your moaning then. You could be bothering old Nick's ear instead.' 'It's hard not to gripe when I've got to put up with bastards like you.' 'The bells of hell go ting-aling-aling, for you, but not for me,' Ed sang, smiling wickedly at Jones. 'The herald angels sing-aling-ling, for me, for me.' 'Bloody wandered in the head he is,' Williams muttered, as Ed sang to himself. Harry”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“I'd sell my bloody wife for a packet of gaspers right about now,' Williams said, biting a fingernail that was cracked down the middle. 'You wouldn't get many for her,' Ed replied.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“The answer's no, now get your shit together. Andy and Taffy, go and grab a couple of those blankets, we'll be in need of them later,' Williams said, jumping down from the table, his boots clicking loudly on the tile floor. 'Back to the fucking war, the general's spoken,' Ed muttered. 'I heard that you scrawny fuck, now shake yourself out and let's get moving.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor

“If yow are going to ask me to swim the thing, I'd like to know how deep it is, I don't like swimming.' 'Is that why you never have a wash?' 'Who asked yow to chime in, Taffy?' 'We ought to throw a bar of soap in when we go over, it might be the only chance we get,' Ed said.”
― Stuart Minor, The Complete Western Front Series by Stuart Minor