The Friends (all aged 21)

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Barbara  

Barbara is one of the few folks in the village excited by the war. Accepting its tragic nature, of course, she’s nevertheless enthused by the opportunities opened to women now and in the future. Barbara and Harry were a feisty couple, always arguing but usually in a good-hearted manner. Harry, strong and keen on sport, came from a very traditional upbringing, however, and could never quite come to terms with Barbara’s eagerness to buck the age-old traditions of marriage and family. Barbara and shy, reserved Teddy have been spending more time together of late... their relationship more one of quiet companionship than overt courtship.

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Billy

Billy was best known to George (his best friend) and Frank, growing up in Watling.  But Billy was known to all - always the town daredevil, a rebel.  He and George were known to goad each other into greater and greater challenges.  It's no secret to anyone in the town that Billy loves being a soldier (which surprised everyone, considering he has to take orders), has taken well to it, and is expected to rise well through the ranks.  Billy hasn't been seen in Watling, however, since the wedding.  Or, what was supposed to be a wedding.  Billy, who seemed madly in love with Connie (the only person in Watling who dared to call him William), disappeared from Watling and transferred to another local unit.  

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Connie

Connie seems to stand apart from the frenetic rush to pair up and find a man, at least recently. Her father is an engineer at the local factory and that seems to have rubbed off on her. She has formed a natural friendship with Barbara through a shared determination to break the chains that society puts on women. She seems to have formed another friendship with George and Teddy – who still disappear alone into Teddy's shed to work on the model railway of Teddy's after it long lost interest as a children's toy for the rest of their friends. Last year, Connie was an uncharacteristic blushing bride, but was left at the altar without explanation by Billy – a good friend of George (who was to be his witness and best man) and Frank, and her whirlwind sweetheart. No one really talks about that time now, since Connie never broaches the subject, much preferring to talk about women’s suffrage and their role in The War.

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Edith

Edith is the eldest daughter of the local doctor and a blossoming English Rose. Since the death of her mother, she’s played hostess at every village and church Fête, and is best known for her elegant Sunday luncheons. Edith met her fiancée, Frank, through his younger 

brother George’s infatuation with her best friend Emily - the two ladies and two young men being a long-time foursome for picnics and outings. It came as a surprise to some, but not to others, that Harry swept up Edith in a flowery, fast-paced courtship after Frank’s untimely death left Edith in shock and despair. Harry and Frank had been best friends, and the rumours have it that the mates had an agreement to take care of the others’ girl if the worst were to happen.

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Emily

Every town has them - folks overly occupied with gossip and grousing about those they feel are beneath them. “Edith’s charity project” is what they call Emily, who comes from a larger family and not nearly as well off as her best friend. The youngest of four sisters, Emily’s clothes were ill-fitting hand-me-downs (except for the few darling things she received from Edith over the years, and now a few from her husband George); she herself has pretty, if plainer, looks which have been enhanced by Edith’s expert hand. George pursued Emily for years, whilst acting as co-chaperones to his brother Frank and Frank’s sweetheart Edith. Most folks thought Emily immune to his charms, which were amorous and unabashed, but their marriage, half a year past, tells us otherwise. Perhaps the less fortunate girl was playing coy, or simply shy, but whatever the tale the two have settled into a comfortable and quaint home of their very own.

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George

George and Frank and all his family were very close-knit and devoted to one another. The enthusiasm of the pair was infectious. Frank, being a bit older, had the better stories to tell - always one step ahead of the rest of them in life; George, the show-off, was always challenging his brother or Billy (who was even more wild than George) to some competition or other, or simply amused by challenging himself to walk gingerly across some ledge or leap from boulder to boulder across some lake. George pursued Emily as far back as any of them learned about the birds and the bees, and finally won her over a few months ago. The two wed quite quickly, with the war looming, lest it be postponed. Perhaps the first seeds of a family have already been planted. George took Frank’s death hard, so the good news in Emily came as a lovely balm to his pain.

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Harry

Harry and Barbara were everyone’s favourite couple. Both were ambitious and strong characters, and although they challenged each other frequently, their affection usually won out. The split between them came quietly, in contrast, and it took a while for the friends to come to terms with it, many hoping they’d be able to overcome their differences in time. Harry focused on his sports, and on training to be the best soldier he could be. Harry, a few years Frank’s junior, was gutted to see his best friend go off to war before him - the two had tackled most of life together, side by side. Barbara had been his distraction, and their split only days before the news of Frank’s death came through, could not have been more poorly timed. Since suddenly taking up with Edith, however, Harry’s worn a mask of positivity and patriotism. His friends know better, but no one’s saying so.

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Mary

Mary is most often found with her nose in a book and another under her arm. She and Tom, other than a short break-up a few months ago, have been together and adorable for a long time, and are recently engaged! Everyone was relieved when they got back together, and many drinks have been raised in their honour. Mary herself seldom brings up the subject - being more focused on her academic projects - but Edith takes every opportunity of a lull in conversation to pester Mary enthusiastically over wedding details.

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Peggy

Peggy comes from a well-to-do family, was raised with traditional values and a good education. She and her best friend Barbara have rather opposing outlooks for their respective futures, but the pair have been inseparable since a tender age, currently working delicate and advanced jobs at the local munitions factory. Peggy, Richard, Barbara, Mary, Connie, and Tom all went to the same Grammar school together, united in their mutual love/hate relationship with the challenges of an advanced education. Peggy’s posh upbringing hasn’t, however, protected her from gaining a reputation over the years as a flirt – or the scattered rumours that perhaps she’d gone a bit further with this boy or that. She’s been dating Richard now for over a year, and though the couple is quite comely together, no engagement has been announced.

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Richard

Richard is good looking and bright. He works in the bank, a job that his best friend Tom helped him to get. He met Tom in grammar school when Richard stood up to some bullies who were beating up Tom. They were inseparable friends from that point on. Richard didn't have any girlfriends in school but a few years afterwards he suddenly changed and started going out with a lot of girls from the area. He was a bit of a heart-breaker and never went out with one girl for very long. He is currently with Peggy, and has (surprisingly) been with her for over a year.

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Teddy

Teddy is the shy, reserved gentleman of the bunch. Neither as smart nor privileged as Tom and Richard, nor as talented as George or Harry, Teddy nonetheless is loyal and has proven a solid friend to every man and woman among them at one time or other. Teddy is, however, a bit of a dreamer. In those moments he really opens up, his friends have learned that, while Teddy would like a family one day, he wants to make an impact on the world. Doing what, exactly, is what’s eluding him. He announced recently that he and Barbara had made a pact to marry when they’re 25 if they’re both still single.

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Tom

Richard and Tom became best mates following a rather nasty affair with some bullies. While Tom is lucky in fortune, with a family well-moneyed, he wasn’t gifted the robust stature of Richard or Harry. A few blokes less fortunate ganged up to shame Tom about his fancy apparel, and Richard intervened after Tom took his first punch. Tom comes from good stock, had a fine education, but is humble about his superior birth among his friends. His surprising proposal to Mary was celebrated by all, and the men are looking forward to the bachelor party as much as they are to shipping out tomorrow.

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(All quotes on this site taken from "Love Letters of the Great War", a compilation edited by Mandy Kirkby)

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