Chapter summaries In Memoriam Alice Winn

Chapter Five: Ellwood Enlists – Letters from Training Camp

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter Five is an epistolary chapter set between May and July 1915. Ellwood tells his weeping mother he has joined the Royal Kennet Fusiliers as a second lieutenant. He writes to Gaunt in France, describing training at Randall’s Farm, friendships made, and news of classmates who have died or been captured—Sandys shot through the mouth, Maitland killed at Ypres, Charlie Pritchard dead, Archie Pritchard captured. Gaunt replies tersely, telling Ellwood to go back to school. Ellwood also writes to Arthur Loring, then to Maud Gaunt, asking about Henry after weeks of silence. Maud reveals she is training secretly with the VADs and that Henry’s leg has healed and he is back in Flanders. Ellwood’s final letter expresses frustration at Gaunt’s silence.

Key Events

  • Ellwood’s mother weeps when he tells her he has enlisted, calling him too young and sensitive.
  • Ellwood says he is “twenty-five in my head” and insists he had to join because his friends are fighting.
  • He writes to Gaunt on 7 May 1915: training is hard but peaceful; he rides a horse; he mentions Pritchard joining up, Sandys killed (shot through the mouth), Maitland’s death, and the gas attack.
  • Gaunt writes back on 18 May: “Don’t be an idiot. You are not old enough to enlist. Go back to school.”
  • Ellwood writes again on 31 May, comparing Gaunt to his mother, mentioning Arthur Loring, quoting “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” and noting Rupert Brooke’s death from a mosquito bite.
  • On 14 June, Ellwood reports Loring has left for the front and that Maitland’s mother asked for his letters (Ellwood lied and said he lost them).
  • On 23 June, Ellwood writes to Maud Gaunt asking for news of Henry, saying he hasn’t heard from Henry in weeks.
  • Maud replies on 25 June: she is training in secret with the VADs; Henry’s leg is healed and he is back in Flanders; she is surprised Ellwood didn’t know.
  • Ellwood’s final letter to Gaunt on 2 July accuses him of punishing him for joining up and refuses to back down.

Character Development

  • Sidney Ellwood: Shows determination and a romantic view of war, wanting to prove his bravery despite his mother’s fears. He is sensitive (he lies to Maitland’s mother to protect her) but also stubborn, refusing to be cowed by Gaunt.
  • Henry Gaunt: Appears only through his brief, curt letter. He is protective, clearly upset that Ellwood enlisted, and his silence suggests anger or worry.
  • Mrs. Ellwood: Grief-stricken, she sees Ellwood as “sensitive” and not suited for war—a coded reference to his sexuality. Her love is possessive.
  • Maud Gaunt: Takes initiative by training as a nurse, lying to her mother. She is perceptive about Henry’s wooden letters and worried about the horrors.
  • Arthur Loring: A new friend of Ellwood’s, connected to Maitland; his departure to the front leaves Ellwood lonely.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Masculinity and Vulnerability: Ellwood’s mother’s unspoken fear about his “sensitivity” hints at societal pressure to prove one’s manhood through war.
  • The Cost of War: Casualty lists dominate the letters—Sandys, Maitland, Charlie Pritchard, Rupert Brooke—showing how death permeates every conversation.
  • Communication and Silence: Letters reveal both connection and distance. Gaunt’s silence, Ellwood’s pleas, Maud’s secret training—all underscore the difficulty of staying close amid war.
  • Patriotism vs. Duty to Family: Ellwood feels shame staying home while his friends fight, but his mother insists “King and country don’t need you. I do.”
  • Nostalgia for the Lost: Ellwood quotes Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade” and recalls Maitland’s humorous book descriptions, showing how the dead are remembered.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Five establishes Ellwood’s voluntary enlistment and sets up a key emotional conflict with Gaunt. Through letters, the chapter deepens the bond between Ellwood and the absent Gaunt, introduces Maud as an active character, and illustrates how the war consumes the home front. Ellwood’s refusal to obey Gaunt’s command to return to school foreshadows a clash of wills and reveals his desperate need to be seen as an equal.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ellwood’s mother say he is “different from those boys”?
She hints at his homosexuality, calling him “sensitive” without saying it outright. She fears he will not survive the brutality of war because of his emotional and physical vulnerability.

2. How does Gaunt’s letter to Ellwood contrast with Ellwood’s tone?
Gaunt’s letter is blunt and commanding, telling Ellwood to go back to school. It contrasts sharply with Ellwood’s affectionate, chatty letters that seek connection. Gaunt’s brevity suggests anger or fear for Ellwood’s safety.

3. What does Maud’s secret VAD training reveal about her character?
Maud is proactive, resourceful, and willing to deceive her mother to contribute to the war effort. She feels helpless reading casualty lists while doing Latin conjugations, so she takes action. Her independence and compassion mirror Ellwood’s own desire to matter.

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