#Corporal Peter Newkick

[khantoelessar]

Oh yeah!

[khantoelessar]

Those hashtags! Oh hell yeah!

“If I’m not back in ten minutes—”

[khantoelessar]

Very interesting! Thank you!

Learning about classicism in the RAF that sheds a whole lot of light on Newkirk! Basically before the war the British air force was an elitist club for the highest social class. Only the rich and aristocratic, guys who went to Oxford and Cambridge, etc. we’re allowed in the airforce, and they were all officers.

Along comes ww2 where suddenly they need thousands more guys and start opening it up to anyone, which MAJORLY pisses off the posh guys already there, having lost their elite club and rubbing shoulders with guys who went to “state” colleges.

Along come guys like Newkirk, who add insult to injury by being basically a street urchin from the worst part of town, probably never went to college. All this was broadcast every time he opened his mouth, with his accent marking him as the absolute lowest of the lowest social class. He would have been treated absolutely horribly by most guys from higher classes and definitely all officers.

British classicism in the Victorian era is really interesting to study, as well as how WWII shook it up by forcing everyone together. Anyhow, Newkirk’s disgust toward all officers except Hogan, and general disregard for rank makes sense, as well as his all around brash defensiveness.

[khantoelessar]

Yup.