1917 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Blake's brother is part of the battalion they are attempting to save.

General Erinmore gets right to the point. "Which one of you is Blake?" he asks. "Sir," Blake replies. Erinmore asks Blake if he has a brother who is a Lieutenant in the 2nd Devons, and Blake answers in the affirmative. "Is he..." Blake begins to ask, but he is cut off by the General. "Alive, as far as I know," he says. "And with your help I'd like to keep it that way." He shows Blake and Schofield their position on a map and asks how long it would take them to reach the 2nd Devons, who are advancing across enemy lines at Croisilles Wood, one mile south-east of Écoust. "Sir, that land is held by the Germans," Schofield says uneasily. "Germans have gone," Erinmore replies. "It appears to be a strategic withdrawal. They seem to have created a new line, nine miles back here, by the looks of it. Colonel MacKenzie is in command of the 2nd. He sent word yesterday morning he was going after the retreating Germans. He is convinced he has them on the run - that if he can break their lines now, he will turn the tide. He is wrong."

"Colonel MacKenzie has not seen these aerials of the enemy's new line," Erinmore continues, motioning for the corporals to move over to look at detailed maps of what would become known as the Hindenburg Line. "Three miles deep, field fortifications, defences and artillery the like of which we've never seen before. The 2nd are due to attack the line shortly after dawn tomorrow. They have no idea what they are in for. And we can't warn them - as a parting gift, the enemy cut all our telephone lines." Erinmore hands Blake an envelope. "Deliver this to Colonel MacKenzie," he says. "It is a direct order to call off tomorrow morning's attack. If you don't, it will be a massacre. We would lose two battalions. Sixteen hundred men, your brother among them."

Answer: Two planes flying overhead

Blake sets off with purpose, Schofield hurrying after him. They move west along the trench, up through Sauchiehall Street, before turning north-west onto Paradise Alley. They continue along the British front line until they locate the Yorks, who are holding the line at the narrowest span of No Man's Land. They find Lieutenant Leslie, the officer in command, and inform him that they have orders from General Erinmore to cross here. As the sap trench was mostly destroyed weeks ago, there is no cover for the corporals, who will have to make their way to the German front line in daylight, completely exposed. The Lieutenant leads the corporals to a pair of ladders leaning against the trench wall. "Your best bet is to pop over here," he says, before telling them to send up a flare if they make it. By this time a small crowd of men have assembled to watch Blake and Schofield as they affix their bayonets on their rifles and step up onto the ladder, preparing themselves for the crossing. Just as Blake is about to proceed, Schofield stops him. "Age before beauty," he says, as he steps up into No Man's Land.

Blake and Schofield leopard crawl for a few metres and get to their feet after no one shoots at them. They locate the landmarks provided by Leslie - a couple of dead horses and a dead German soldier that mark the breaks in the British barbed wire defences. They move through part of an old sap trench but are soon forced out in the open again. They turn towards a sound coming from behind them - two planes are flying overhead. They run and take cover in a shell hole until the planes pass, and confirm that they're British. They keep moving - around the base of a mine crater and through a gap in the German wire towards the German front line. They climb up to the top of the German trench, rifles ready for whatever comes next, but the trench is deserted. "They really have gone," Blake says in disbelief. They jump down into the trench to look around, finding a brazier containing white coal embers still smouldering with bits of red. "They're not long gone," Schofield observes. Several sections of the trench have been damaged by shelling, leaving every way impassable or blocked. The only way forward seems to be through a dug-out that descends into the ground.

Answer: The tunnel was rigged with explosives to collapse.

Blake and Schofield descend down the wooden stairs to find a massive space dug into the ground and fortified with timber walls and supports. They pass through rooms filled with bunk beds. "They built all this," Blake says, marvelling at the German ingenuity. He stops to sit on one of the bunks and notices a large rat gnawing away at a canvas sack that has been suspended from a hook on one of the roof beams. "Even their rats are bigger than ours," he marvels. Similar sacks hang from other beams throughout the room. "What do you think's in the bags?" Blake asks. "You cannot be that hungry," replies Schofield, who uses his flashlight to illuminate a bunch of crates and some leftover supplies at the far end of the room. He walks over to investigate, tossing one of the food tins over to Blake, when he suddenly stops dead in his tracks. "Trip wire," Schofield says. "Don't move." Schofield's flashlight tracks the wire from a support beam to the door when an object suddenly slams onto the floor in front of them. A rat had gnawed through the string connecting a canvas sack to a roof beam, sending both rat and sack to the floor. The rat starts dragging the sack away from the two men - right in the direction of the trip wire. "No!" Blake shouts as he reaches for the sack, but it's too late - the rodent sets off the explosives connected to the trip wire and the blast sends Blake hurtling backwards into a wall.

Blake recovers and scans the room for Schofield, who has been buried under a section of the roof that had collapsed. Blake frantically digs Schofield out from under the pile of chalky rubble, as the sound of groaning timber and crumbling walls echo all around them. The tunnels are collapsing and they will soon be buried by the cave-in. Blake pulls Schofield up to his feet as he coughs and gasps for air, his face covered in so much white dust that he resembles a clay sculpture. "The whole thing's coming down," Blake yells. "Come on. You keep hold of me!" He leads the way through the tunnels toward the exit as the dug-out begins coming down around them. They make it across a mine shaft, with Schofield having to jump toward the sound of Blake's voice because he's been blinded by dust and debris. "Don't let go of me! Don't let go!" Blake yells, as he guides Schofield towards a rectangle of daylight in the distance. They make it out just before the rest of the tunnels collapse behind them.

Answer: Cherry trees

Blake and Schofield stumble out of the tunnels, Schofield stopping to catch his breath while Blake runs ahead to clear the area. They walk over a small rise to find the place deserted - just a few damaged artillery guns and thousands of spent shell cartridges on the ground. Schofield empties the contents of his water canteen over his face to get the dust out of his eyes, and checks his pockets, removing a small tobacco tin. He quickly checks the contents and puts it away. Blake fires the flare for Lieutenant Leslie, and they press on. They head south-east in the direction of Écoust, through a small copse and over a field until they reach the ruins of a small, walled orchard. As they pass through the remains of the near wall, they see that the retreating Germans have chopped down all the trees. Trunks and branches litter the ground, and a few white flower blossoms float about in the air. "Cherries," Blake observes. "Lamberts. They might be Dukes, hard to tell when they aren't in fruit." Schofield surveys the scene. "What's the difference?" he asks. "Well people think there's one type, but there's lots of them - Cuthberts, Queen Annes, Montmorencys. Sweet ones, sour ones," Blake replies. "Why on earth would you know this?" Schofield asks. "Mum's got an orchard, back home," Blake explains. "Only a few trees. This time of year it looks like it's been snowing, blossom everywhere. And then in May, we have to pick them. Me and Joe. Takes the whole day." Blake gets a little emotional as he talks about his brother, which Schofield registers. "So, these ones all gonners?" he asks, referring to the felled trees. "Oh no, they'll grow again when the stones rot," Blake replies. "You'll end up with more trees than before."

They pass through the far wall of the orchard and out into a small valley with a derelict French farmhouse. It looks abandoned.

Answer: Knife

Blake and Schofield clear the farmhouse and accompanying barn, which are in a state of serious disrepair. They find nothing salvageable in the farmhouse, but Schofield finds a full milk bucket in the barn, which he uses to fill his empty canteen as Blake consults a map. A droning sound in the distance catches their attention. They look up to see three planes flying over the fields behind the barn - the two British planes from before in a dogfight with a solitary German plane. They watch as the German plane is hit, trailing thick black smoke from its engine until it falls below the horizon, before appearing over the ridge and gliding straight into their path. Blake and Schofield turn and run as the plane crashes into the barn, engulfed in flames. They hear the German pilot screaming and they pull him from the wreckage and away from the fire. He is badly burnt and appears to be in shock. "We should put him out of his misery," Schofield says. "No. Get him some water," Blake replies. Schofield runs to the water pump to fill his helmet. He is only gone for a few seconds, when he hears Blake screaming "Stop!" and turns to see the pilot stabbing Blake in the stomach.

Schofield raises his rifle and shoots the pilot dead, and rushes over to Blake - he quickly takes out a dressing and presses it against Blake's abdomen to stop the bleeding. Schofield tries to get Blake to stand up, but he can't and collapses from the pain. The field dressing and Blake's tunic are soaked through, and we see the colour draining from Blake's face. Schofield is getting desperate. "Your brother. We have to find your brother," he says. "You'll recognise him," Blake replies. "He looks like me and he's a bit older." Schofield looks around at the burning barn as Blake goes into shock. "Am I dying?" Blake asks weakly. Schofield looks around helplessly. "Yes, I think you are," he says. "Will you write to my mum for me?" Blake asks. "Tell her I wasn't scared." Schofield answers affirmatively, and tries his best to comfort Blake. "Tell me you know the way," Blake says. Schofield releases the pressure on Blake's wound and takes his hand. "I know the way," he says confidently. "I'm going to head south-east until I hit Écoust. I'll pass through the town and out to the east, all the way to Croisilles Wood." Blake looks up at Schofield, desperate to believe in his friend, his breaths getting shallower. "I'll find the 2nd, I'll give them the message, and then I'll find your brother," Schofield continues. "Just like you, a little older..." He trails off as the last breath leaves Blake's body. He is gone.

Answer: It gets stuck in mud.

Schofield retrieves the letter for Colonel MacKenzie from Blake's pocket, and removes his rings and identity disc. As he is moving Blake's body, he encounters two British privates from a passing company who saw the smoke from the downed plane and came to investigate. Schofield meets Captain Smith, who offers him a ride in the casuals truck after he tells him of his mission. "I'm sorry about your friend," Smith offers. "May I tell you something that you probably already know? It doesn't do to dwell on it." Schofield clambers onto the back of the last truck in the convoy with the rest of the men, who are a combination of Scots and Sikhs. They all ignore Schofield, and go about chatting and joking to pass the time. After a few minutes, the truck suddenly lurches forward. Schofield jumps out the back to see the truck's rear wheels stuck in some mud - the driver revs the engine but the wheels just spin uselessly. Reversing also doesn't help. Schofield has all the men get out of the truck and tries to push it out of the mud as the driver revs the engine again. The truck stays where it is. "We need to get some wood, put it under the wheels," a private says. "No!" Schofield says. "We haven't got the time! We all need to push! Come on!" He and a few men resume pushing the truck again, straining under the effort, while the rest of the men just stare on blankly. "Please. I have to go now. Please," Schofield says. They all hear the desperation in his voice, and fall in next to him. All of the men - about 20 - help to push this time, and after the second try the truck pulls free from the mud. They all get back on board and the convoy moves on.

Inside the truck, the men view Schofield curiously. "So, where are you going?" Sepoy Jondalar asks. "I have to get to the 2nd Devons, just past Écoust," Schofield replies. "They're attacking at dawn. I have orders to stop them." The men register this for a moment. "How come?" a private asks. "They're walking into a trap," Schofield explains. "Why did they send you on your own?" someone asks. "They didn't. There were two of us," Schofield answers. The men nod in comprehension. "So now it's down to you," one of them says. "You'll never make it," says another. Schofield turns to look at the private. "Yes, I will," he says.

The truck travels on for a bit in silence, until it comes to a stop again. Schofield gets down and sees that they are alongside a large canal next to a destroyed bridge. "Next bridge is six miles. We'll have to divert," Smith says. "I can't, Sir. I don't have the time," Schofield informs him. Smith wishes him luck and turns to leave. He stops. "Corporal. If you do manage to get to Colonel MacKenzie, make sure there are witnesses," he advises. "They are direct orders, Sir," Schofield says. "I know," Smith replies. "But some men just want the fight."

Answer: Milk

After the convoy leaves, Schofield surveys his surroundings. The destroyed bridge sits limply in the canal in two pieces, and a small lock-house is situated over on the opposite bank. Schofield climbs up onto the broken balustrade and commences walking. It seems stable enough and supports his weight. Suddenly, a gunshot rings out in the air and lands into the water just below his feet. Without thinking, he leaps onto the second section of the bridge, using the balusters to shield himself from the sniper. More shots ring out, as Schofield climbs quickly along the side of the bridge and throws himself into the shelter of the far bank wall. He creeps along the wall and takes cover in a small stairwell and determines the position of the sniper. He readies his rifle and takes aim at the second-floor window of the lock-house. Most of his shots reach their target. After a few exchanges, the sniper stops returning fire. Schofield takes a deep breath and begins advancing toward the lock-house, through the front door and up the stairs to the sniper's location. He approaches the room and pushes the door open to see the sniper lying against the far wall - injured but alive and brandishing his weapon. In the same split second they both fire; Schofield's bullet kills the sniper while the sniper's bullet ricochets off his helmet, sending him hurtling backwards and down the stairs.

When Schofield comes to, he is bleeding from the back of the head and several hours must have passed as it is already dark outside. He needs to move. He leaves the lock-house and walks towards the ruins of Écoust-Saint-Mein. He sees a silhouette in the distance, in front of a burning church. He is spotted. Schofield runs from the German soldier into a side street and hides in a coal cellar. Inside, a fire is burning and he sees a makeshift bed and some belongings. It is someone's hiding place. He turns around to see a young French woman hiding in the shadows. "There is nothing here," she says in French. "There is nothing for you." Schofield puts his rifle down and holds his hands up to show that he isn't a threat. "Anglais. Not German," he says, struggling to remember his French. "Friend. I'm a friend." The woman is relieved. "I need to be somewhere. I need to find a wood to the south-east," Schofield says. "Trees... les arbres?" He struggles to remember the name of the forest. "Croiset?" he says. "Croisilles?" comes the reply. Schofield nods. She understands, and points out the direction. She is tending to his head wound when he hears a sound - there is a baby in the corner of the room. The woman goes over and lifts the child into her arms. "My little one," she says protectively. "A girl?" he asks. "Yes, a girl," she replies. He asks the baby's name, but the woman doesn't know it; she is not her mother. Schofield starts rummaging in his pack for the rations he was given at the start of the mission. "I have food. Here," he offers. "Take them all, for you and the child." The woman stares at the food hopelessly. "She can't eat that," she says. "She needs milk." Realisation dawns on Schofield's face as he recognises a word - "lait". He reaches for his canteen, opens it and offers it to the woman. She leans in to smell the contents, and looks up at him in amazement. "Thank you," she says gratefully. Schofield plays with the child for a little while, until the sound of a distant church bell interrupts them. Schofield counts out the rings in his head as a look of dread comes across his face. It is six in the morning. He has to go. He gathers his things and leaves.

Answer: By jumping into a river

Schofield takes the stairs up from the coal cellar through the bowels of the bombed out house. He moves cautiously through the deserted streets following the directions he was given by the French woman. It will soon be light out, but he cannot waste any more time if he is to stop the impending attack at dawn. He sees a German soldier stumbling around ahead of him, drunk, and ducks into the building to avoid him, and runs straight into the soldier's very sober friend. The pair struggle in the dark, as the drunk German returns. He hears some muffled noises coming from where Schofield is choking the younger soldier, but can't make out what is happening in the dark. When the soldier finally stops struggling, Schofield gets up and pushes past the approaching drunk soldier and runs out into the street, as shouts of "Engländer" echo behind him. More soldiers appear and give chase, and Schofield is soon sprinting flat-out through the streets, dodging bullets. He reaches the bridge and without stopping launches himself up over the parapet and into the raging waters below.

Schofield struggles against the rapids, removing his webbing so that he doesn't drown. He lets the river's current bring him downstream and away from his pursuers. The churning waters take him over the edge of a waterfall and deep into the plunge pool below. He surfaces a few moments later, alive but totally spent. He clutches a floating tree branch and lets the calmer waters carry him slowly downstream. After some time, he notices dozens of small white objects falling from the air above and in the waters around him - they are cherry blossom petals, falling from the trees that line the river. Blake was right - from Schofield's vantage point, they do resemble snowfall. He takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sight before him, and then starts swimming.

Schofield reaches the riverbank and begins walking through the Croisilles Wood, the sky now bright with the morning sun. A sound drifts over from far away, foreign at first but becoming more distinct as he draws nearer. It is someone singing. He reaches the source of the music - a young soldier is singing in the middle of a small clearing, as hundreds of British troops sit around him, listening. Schofield slumps down in exhaustion. The song ends and the soldiers clap and disperse. "You alright pal?" someone asks, noticing him. Schofield begins mumbling. "The Devons. I have to find the Devons," he manages weakly. The soldiers exchange a look. "We're the Devons," comes the reply. Schofield can't believe his ears. "You're the Devons?" he asks. "Why haven't you gone over?" Another soldier answers, "We're the second wave. They don't send us all at once." Schofield gets to his feet and asks for the location of Colonel MacKenzie. "He's down at the line," a soldier says. "This way."

Answer: False

Schofield pushes past the line of soldiers making their way slowly down the comms trench toward the British front line. He finds the B Company commanding officer in the holding pen and informs him that he has orders from General Erinmore to stop the attack. "We're about to go over. We've got them on the run," the Lieutenant replies. "You don't! Please. Don't send your men over," Schofield replies, as he is dismissed by the Lieutenant. He keeps moving - past the holding area and into the narrower front line trench, where hundreds of soldiers are waiting to begin the first wave of their assault. Schofield pushes past them as German artillery begins falling all around them. "Where is Colonel MacKenzie?" he asks a Lieutenant. "He's further up the line," comes the reply. "Three hundred yards. He's in a cut and cover. You'll have to wait until the first wave goes over." Schofield looks down at the narrowing trench and the men clamouring inside it and realises that he cannot wait and that there's only one way to cover the 300 yards in time. He climbs up onto the berm and looks out into No Man's Land. "You can't possibly make it that way man, are you bloody insane?" the Lieutenant shouts.

In the film's most memorable sequence, Schofield steps up into the field and begins running the 300 yards of open ground toward the command trench, as the first wave of the 2nd Devons begin their charge. Schofield runs parallel to the trench, trying to avoid the hundreds of British soldiers charging perpendicular to him. He collides with some of them and stumbles, but picks himself up each time and continues his sprint, as artillery fire continues to rain down around him. He propels himself into the command trench, pushing past a couple of orderlies into Colonel MacKenzie's dug-out. "Colonel MacKenzie! This attack is not to go ahead! You've been ordered to stop," Schofield shouts, before remembering himself. He salutes the Colonel and presents the letter from General Erinmore. "I have orders from General Erinmore to call off this attack," he says, but MacKenzie isn't interested. "I have heard it all before. I'm not going to wait until dusk, or for fog. I'm not calling back my men, only to send them out there again tomorrow," he says angrily. "The German's planned this, Sir. They've been planning it for months," Schofield says desperately. "They want you to attack." This gets MacKenzie's attention, and he signals for Major Hepburn to retrieve the letter. MacKenzie tears open the envelope and begins reading, his face betraying no emotion. Finally he speaks. "Major," he says. "Stand them down."

Answer: Will

Schofield is dismissed by MacKenzie and exits the dug-out to find Major Hepburn waiting for him. "Well done, lad," he offers. "Thank you, Sir. Do you know where Lieutenant Blake is, Sir?" Schofield asks. Upon seeing the Major's confusion, he adds, "There were two of us. I was sent here with his brother." The Major understands. "Ah. Well, knowing Lieutenant Blake he would have gone over with his men. He was in the first wave," the Major explains, and tells him where he can try locating the elder Blake.

Schofield walks along the trench towards the casualty clearing station behind the front line. All around him, orderlies are tending to the wounded. He reaches a field station set up in a meadow, but is unable to locate Lieutenant Blake among the tents. Finally, Schofield hears a voice that sounds familiar. He turns to see a Lieutenant directing some stretcher bearers toward the triage area. "Lieutenant Blake?" he asks. The man turns to face him. This is Lieutenant Joseph Blake, Lance Corporal Blake's brother. "Do you need medical assistance?" he asks Schofield. "No, Sir. I'm from the 8th," he replies. "I was sent here to deliver a message." Lieutenant Blake's face lights up at the mention of his brother's company. "The 8th? You must know my brother," he says. "I was sent here with him," Schofield replies. "Tom's here? Where is he?" the Lieutenant says, looking around anxiously. His smile fades as he realises what must have happened. "It was very quick. I'm sorry," Schofield offers. He retrieves Tom's belongings from his pocket and hands them to the Lieutenant. "What's your name?" the Lieutenant asks, as he looks down at his brother's bloodstained belongings. "Schofield, Sir," comes the reply, but the Lieutenant isn't listening. He finally looks up at Schofield. "I'm sorry... what?" he asks. "It's Schofield, Sir. William Schofield. Will." It seems fitting that Schofield's first name is synonymous with "determination". He is dismissed by the Lieutenant and turns to leave, then stops. "If I may, I'd like to write to your mother. Tell her that Tom wasn't alone," he says. "He was a good man. Always telling funny stories. He saved my life." The Lieutenant has tears in his eyes. "Well, I am glad you were with him," he says as he offers his hand. "Thank you, Will."

Schofield turns and walks further into the meadow and comes to rest under a large tree. He pulls out his tobacco tin and opens it, removing photographs of his wife and daughters. On the back of one is written "Come back to us". The movie ends the same way it began - with Schofield lying against a tree with his eyes closed.