How would soldiers react to being given a white feather?
My Grandfather was home from the Front during WW1on leave, and was in civilian dress when he was given a white feather. He was absolutely mortified by this, especially as he was serving in the front line and witnessed all the horrors of war. I think he spoke of this event more than any other of his war memories. For your information he later became a very serious casualty from a shell whilst he was in “no mans land”. I suspect that all soldiers treated this way felt the same, and would have preferred the ladies to have made enquiries before humiliating them in public. Edit – to Armourer – I don’t agree that they would have ignored the insult as the manners and expectations of the men were perhaps different then. No insult intended, as I have agreed with many of your other answers, and I respect your career. I briefly served (RE) and one of my colleagues transferred to EOD, was captured (behind enemy lines), tortured and executed during the last Gulf War.
