Alan Abercrombie Character Analysis in The First Casualty

Abercrombie is a military captain from a wealthy family, as well as a renowned poet. Primarily, the country knows him because of his nationalistic poems that have titles such as “Forever England.” However, as Abercrombie matures and the war drags on, his poems become darker, and he begins to turn against the war. As Abercrombie is recovering from shell shock, Shannon kills Abercrombie. This is because Shannon discovered that Abercrombie planned to write to the press regarding his new feelings on the war. Kingsley spends the novel trying to uncover who killed Abercrombie and why, and he ultimately advocates for Abercrombie’s anti-war poems to be published.

Alan Abercrombie Quotes in The First Casualty

The The First Casualty quotes below are all either spoken by Alan Abercrombie or refer to Alan Abercrombie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

‘What we’ve never had amongst us before, however, is a published poet, of all the damn things, and a famous one to boot. Now I have to say that as a rule I don’t hold much with poetry. To be quite frank, I think pretty much everything written along those lines since Tennyson has been absolute bilge. Complete tommyrot. However, I don’t mind telling you that I make an exception for the work of our brother officer here. “Forever England” really moved me. I remember when I first heard it, it brought tears to my eyes.’

Related Characters: Colonel Hilton (speaker), Douglas Kingsley, Alan Abercrombie

Page Number and Citation: 57

Explanation and Analysis:

‘Your poetry’s shit, Captain. “Forever England”? What a lot of lying shit. I’ve heard boys quote it, Captain. Sixteen-year-old boys parroting that shit as they marched off to their deaths. Forever England? Forever shit. Shit shit shit.’

Related Characters: Hopkins (speaker), Alan Abercrombie

Page Number and Citation: 76

Explanation and Analysis:

A little later in that house a shot rang out. Nobody heard it. A million shots rang out in each man’s head that night. Another million could be heard for real up and down the length of France and Belgium and in Turkey, Greece and Asia Minor, the Balkans, Persia, Mesopotamia, Africa, Italy, deep in the heart of Russia and upon the dark waters of the Atlantic. One shot more or less could hardly matter and nobody paid it any mind.

Related Characters: Captain Shannon/Colonel Willow, Alan Abercrombie

Page Number and Citation: 102

Explanation and Analysis:

“Well, you know something, Inspector, I know I’m being rude but, you see, I have a rule and I never break it.’

‘Rule?’

‘Shannon’s credo. Any drink. Any meal. Any girl. Any time.’

Related Characters: Captain Shannon/Colonel Willow (speaker), Douglas Kingsley, Alan Abercrombie, Violet, Murray

Page Number and Citation: 155

Explanation and Analysis:

Forever England. Home and hearth.

Valley, dale and country path.

Lonely cottage. Village green.

Cricket, hunt and church serene.

Forever England. When I die

I pray beneath your turf I’ll lie.

But if instead, I die abroad

Cut down by bullet, bomb or sword

To mark the sacrifice I gave

Put ‘Forever England’ on my grave.

Related Characters: Alan Abercrombie

Page Number and Citation: 168

Explanation and Analysis:

Could Kingsley find some comfort in his actions in bringing the party home? He had killed Germans, he had saved Britons. He had done so whilst defending himself and in the pursuit of criminal evidence.

Related Characters: Captain Edmonds, Alan Abercrombie, Douglas Kingsley

Page Number and Citation: 333

Explanation and Analysis:

And there, beneath the dripping rim of his steel helmet, behind the glowing ember of his fag, was the grim face and staring eyes of the man whom Kingsley had met only once but whose fate was inextricably entwined with his own. The man whose release from military prison Kingsley had brought about just one day earlier. Whom Kingsley’s brave and careful detective work had saved from the firing squad.

And they had sent him straight back into the line.

Related Characters: McCroon, Hopkins, Douglas Kingsley, Alan Abercrombie

Page Number and Citation: 355

Explanation and Analysis:

‘Don’t be ridiculous! The man was a viscount, how could he possibly have gone into the ranks? No, he wanted to chuck the army altogether. He’d turned against the war. Do you understand, Captain? The man who wrote “Forever England” wanted to resign his commission because he was against the war! Decided it was wrong and wicked and all the usual stuff which we all feel most of the bloody time, but that still leaves three million German soldiers sitting in France and trying to get to Britain! What did he expect us to do about them while we’re all chucking it in just because we lost a pal or two?’

Related Characters: Colonel Hilton (speaker), Alan Abercrombie, Douglas Kingsley

Page Number and Citation: 414

Explanation and Analysis:

Alan Abercrombie Character Timeline in The First Casualty

The timeline below shows where the character Alan Abercrombie appears in The First Casualty. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The same evening that Agnes visits Kingsley, Captain Alan Abercrombie enters Bartholomew’s Private Hotel, also known as the Lavender Lamp. When soldiers enter the Lavender... (full context)

Captain Abercrombie was a viscount before entering the war, as well as a minor celebrity and published... (full context)

...his bag to pull out some poetry he has written and wants to share with Abercrombie. Abercrombie stops Stamford, warning him that he does not want to read his poetry. Stamford... (full context)

While Kingsley spends his first night in prison, Viscount Abercrombie has an elaborate dinner with his new battalion. The following day, Abercrombie and rest of... (full context)

After dinner, Stamford approaches Abercrombie and asks why he won’t meet his gaze. Abercrombie pretends not to know what Stamford... (full context)

After his conversation with Stamford, Abercrombie returns to his tent. There, he attempts to write a letter to a woman he... (full context)

Captain Abercrombie’s first day back on the front sees him punishing Hopkins. He asks Hopkins if there... (full context)

...July 31, 1917, the British army spends the night shelling the German line near Ypres. Abercrombie and the rest of his battalion are up all night long admiring and fearing the... (full context)

...but it’s still more progress than they have made in some time. Following the battle, Abercrombie finds he can longer speak. At the medical tent, he learns that he has shell... (full context)

The same evening Abercrombie discovers he is mute, Kingsley is still in the prison’s hospital ward. He has not... (full context)

...how he will not put on a lice-ridden uniform. In another room, Stamford is kissing Abercrombie and trying to comfort him. Not long afterwards, someone fires a shot in the tent.... (full context)

Lord Abercrombie, Abercrombie’s father, is eating his breakfast at the Carlton Club when a servant approaches him... (full context)

Lord Abercrombie speaks with the Secretary of State for War about Abercrombie’s death. The Secretary of State... (full context)

...what happened to Hopkins, whom the army is holding and planning to try for murdering Abercrombie. In addition to Beatrice and Sydney, the group consists of Ramsay McDonald, the former Labour... (full context)

As Kingsley and Shannon walk toward the lunch spot, Shannon informs Kingsley that Abercrombie is dead. Kingsley vaguely knows about Abercrombie but does not see what his death has... (full context)

...in prison. Shannon told him he is not allowed to contact Agnes while working the Abercrombie case, so the letter will only be sent in the event of his death. However,... (full context)

...decides to look at the most recent newspapers to see what he can learn about Abercrombie. He reads Abercrombie’s obituary in the paper, which closes with his most famous poem “Forever... (full context)

...their low budget. Then, he offers Kingsley tea and asks if Shannon told him about Abercrombie. Kingsley confirms that Shannon told him a little bit, but not much. He also expresses... (full context)

As for the case itself, Cumming explains it is a delicate matter because Abercrombie’s death has led to fighting among party leaders. In particular, the Labour party suspects Hopkins... (full context)

...He learns that the nurse, Murray, and the Communist, McCroon, saw a mysterious officer leave Abercrombie’s room around the same time. However, both only saw his silhouette. Additionally, Kingsley learns that... (full context)

...makes their way back to the truck, Kingsley asks Price if he knows anything about Abercrombie. Price shrugs and says Abercrombie’s death means there is one less aristocrat around to steal... (full context)

...of the soldiers march to the frontline, Kingsley takes an ambulance headed to Merville, where Abercrombie stayed prior to his death. At first Kingsley considers himself lucky until he realizes he... (full context)

...Shannon had mentioned previously, approaches Kingsley and introduces herself. Kingsley begins asking her questions about Abercrombie and Hopkins. Murray explains that like all men at the facility, Abercrombie and Hopkins were... (full context)

Before speaking further on Abercrombie, Murray tells Kingsley that she hates policemen as a general rule and will not tolerate... (full context)

Then, Murray repeats what she saw on the night of Abercrombie’s death, which is exactly what Shannon already reported to Kingsley. Kingsley asks if the man... (full context)

Murray also tells Kingsley she does not think Hopkins killed Abercrombie. She believes he is telling the truth and says that shell shocked people are not... (full context)

Kingsley asks about Abercrombie’s possessions. Murray replies that he did not have much on him, which Kingsley finds notable... (full context)

...to his assigned billet, a small room above a bar in Merville. He wonders whether Abercrombie’s killer has already died in the war. After looking over his accommodations, Kingsley goes downstairs... (full context)

...writes down notes. The soldiers also discuss Hopkins’s arrest and the possibility of him killing Abercrombie. The men do not know all the details of the case, but they seem unconvinced... (full context)

After the show is over, Kingsley speaks with some of the soldiers about Abercrombie. In particular, he talks with Stamford, who was one of the actors in the show.... (full context)

...to pass through censors. Murray says that these letters usually are erotic in nature. Notably, Abercrombie requested one just before he died. (full context)

Kingsley visits a sergeant of the military police who was in charge the night Abercrombie died. He asks for a record of the night, only to find that virtually no... (full context)

...following his experience in the Battle of Ypres. Hopkins insists that he did not kill Abercrombie. He also tells Kingsley that he heard a row going on in Abercrombie’s room leading... (full context)

...finished, Kingsley asks where he can find Captain Edmonds, the man who was recently issued Abercrombie’s gun. The men in the communications trench point him in the right direction. (full context)

...the men Edmonds shot. Eventually, he finds what he is looking for: a bullet from Abercrombie’s gun. Edmonds, still alive, tells Kingsley to order the men to retreat. (full context)

After experiencing battle for the first time, Kingsley goes looking for Colonel Hilton, Abercrombie’s commanding officer. Colonel Hilton is the same man who gave a speech about Abercrombie at... (full context)

Kingsley explains that he only became involved in the battle because he is investigating Abercrombie’s death. Feeling theatrical, he presents the bullet he dug out of the man Edmonds shot,... (full context)

After eating the cake, Kingsley asks Colonel Hilton about the last time he was with Abercrombie. Colonel Hilton explains that he saw Abercrombie at Merville. The only thing he recalls is... (full context)

Kingsley returns to Merville, where he has Abercrombie’s body exhumed so he can examine it. The same sergeant Kingsley had previously talked to... (full context)

Then, Kingsley examines Abercrombie’s body. He determines that the murderer used one of Abercrombie’s boots as a silencer to... (full context)

McCroon tells Kingsley that the man he saw visiting Abercrombie had a case of some kind. Additionally, he says that he left Hopkins’s tent before... (full context)

During and after sex, Murray and Kingsley talk about the Abercrombie case and their feelings for each other. Kingsley tells Murray that she was right about... (full context)

...has no idea of their true intentions. Kingsley once again asks Stamford about the night Abercrombie died. The line of questioning makes Stamford uncomfortable, especially when he hears about someone leaving... (full context)

...asks Stamford about the leather case he has been carrying around, which looks just like Abercrombie’s. Again, Stamford tries to make an excuse, but he is obviously lying. (full context)

...Kingsley get him to admit that he did not write the poems. Stamford explains that Abercrombie gave him the poems to burn. However, Stamford thought the poems were beautiful and could... (full context)

...with him. Murray asks Kingsley if he will tell her what he thinks happened to Abercrombie, but Kingsley says he cannot until the case is over. (full context)

...prepares to return to Merville. Before she leaves, Kingsley asks her to hold on to Abercrombie’s poems for the time being because they might still be useful for the case. (full context)

...Hilton to put the investigation over the needs of his men, Kingsley decides to discuss Abercrombie later. For the time being, he retreats with Hilton and his men, slowly and silently.... (full context)

While in the foxhole, Kingsley talks to Hilton about Abercrombie. He asks Hilton if he ever read Abercrombie’s letters, which is something Hilton would be... (full context)

Kingsley asks Hilton about Abercrombie’s most recent letter, which he sent just before he died. Hilton refuses to say what... (full context)

Kingsley and Shannon walk to a secluded area and discuss the Abercrombie case. Kingsley fills Shannon in on the crucial details, though Shannon keeps interrupting him. Shannon... (full context)

...still giving nothing away. Kingsley says that he knows Shannon was present the night of Abercrombie’s death because Murray told him so. Additionally, he learned that Hilton would have reported Abercrombie’s... (full context)

After he hears everything Kingsley has to say, Shannon admits to killing Abercrombie. Then, Shannon puts his hand of his gun and talks about how annoying it has... (full context)

...upset to see him go. Before he leaves, he convinces her to let him take Abercrombie’s poems with him. One week later, Kingsley writes a letter to Agnes explaining everything that... (full context)

...he was released from a prisoner of war camp. Kingsley also insists that some of Abercrombie’s poems be published to demonstrate the late poet’s disillusionment. Cumming agrees to grant these requests... (full context)

The First Casualty

Alan Abercrombie Character Analysis

Alan Abercrombie Quotes in The First Casualty

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 10 Quotes

Chapter 15 Quotes

Chapter 26 Quotes

Chapter 27 Quotes

Chapter 42 Quotes

Chapter 45 Quotes

Chapter 50 Quotes

Alan Abercrombie Character Timeline in The First Casualty