Stephen became familiar with these surroundings; 'He grew used to the sight and smell of torn human flesh.' The fact he has grown used to this horrifying combination represents how often he has had to contend with it. However this has helped Stephen develop leadership, which can be seen during the death of fellow comrade Douglas, a traumatic encounter for Stephen. 'As he pressed the wound he felt Douglas's flesh slipping between his hands, a rib or two had collapsed, his hand was going in towards the man's lung.' This would have been very distressing for Stephen, a moment he will never forget.
When Stephen is being treated, he witnesses the effects of a gas attack, on a boy. 'His infected lungs began to burble and froth with yellow fluid that choked his words of protest.' Faulks has used imagery and detailed description to try and convey the image to the reader, showing how ghastly the effects of the gas attack were. As a consequence from these encounters, Stephen's psychological well-being has been noticeably affected, something that is evident when he visits the brothel with Weir. 'He turned the knife so that the blade was in his palm, then ran the handle of it down between her breasts and over her thighs. He did not know what he was doing.' The fact Stephen, 'did not know what he was doing' at his age and maturity symbolises the effects that war has had on him.
The men have to supress the knowledge of what they experience at war. One way soldiers deal with the horrors faced is by being strong minded and not reacting. An example of this is in France 1916 when Jack Firebrace is walking by himself down a lane towards the village. 'What happened a few miles away was kept secret.' This suggests that the soldiers chose to keep the information of what happens at war between those who have experienced it. When Weir goes on leave to England to see his family, he realises that he is distant from communicating with them because he has been away so long.
