Tom, a very belated reply because I have only just seen your comment. I suggest that the movement of his hand under the light was seen by a sniper. He fell with a body wound and when he put his hand to the wound it felt wet and so he knew it was still bleeding.
It is incorrect to say that Rupert Brooke died in action. He died of blood poisoning following an insect bite.
In Comrades: An Episode, how is Gates injured - is he shot in the hand or elsewhere? If it is the hand, would that be serious enough for a soldier to die? I think I am missing something, I would appreciate any information about the poem or where to look for research.
In Comrades: An Episode, what injury does Gates sustain? Is he shot in the hand or elsewhere? I can't work it out from the poem, but would a hand wound kill a soldier? Perhaps I'm missing comething, I would appreciate any advice on where to find more information about this poem.
twenty characters lol