V-2nd C4 The Entire Rigmarole of Nineteenth-Century Gentlemen at War

[Dave Monroe]

   "Combatants on both sides could ... practice with finicking care
the entire rigmarole of nineteenth-century gentlemen of war." (V., Ch.
4, p. 100)


"TDY"

Temporary duty.


"break champagne glasses"

The whole passage is highly reminiscent of Jean Renoir's 1937 film La
Grande Illusion.

--Grant, Companion, p. 62

http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/books/companion_to_v/

http://books.google.com/books?id=JZyY6bmfaJ0C

The Grand Illusion (1937)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028950/

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=91593

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Illusion_%28film%29


"a Bond-Street tailored flying suit"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_Street


"French Spad"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9_Pour_L%27Aviation_et_ses_D%C3%A9riv%C3%A9s


"the Flanders Fields poem in Punch"

"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most notable poems written during
World War I, created in the form of a French rondeau. It has been
called "the most popular poem" produced during that period.  Canadian
physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote it on 3 May 1915
[...] after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis
Helmer, 22 years old, the day before. The poem was first published on
8 December of that year in the London-based magazine Punch.

[...]

In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McCrae (1915)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
   Scarce heard amid the guns below.

   We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

   Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
   We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields


"a latent sense of death"

http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_overview_of_freuds_love_death_drives