History Literature / QuarteredSafeOutHere

* TheScrounger: The Border troops are this compared to other British troops, and the squad is no different. However, Forster is noted to be this even compared to the rest of the squad--which says quite something about his skills.

* SpotOfTea: The primary use of the general issue enameled mug. The author is noticed by the rest of the squad for being able to prepare a particularly "cunning brew".

** In some instances, the squad also shows that they may be more educated than they appear. On one occasion, Grandarse starts reciting Kipling's poetry, even if it's with more profane interjections than the original[[note]]Or, rather, replace the insults used to ones more in line with his own brogue[[/note]]. At another juncture, Sergeant Hutton "borrows" the author's copy of ''Literature/HenryV''. Fraser assumes that the sergeant will not "get it" and will return it within a day or two, but Hutton keeps it much longer than expected, and when he returns the book to Fraser, he states with conviction that Shakespeare himself must have served in the military at some point, so well had he captured the nature of war in the play.

* KukrisAreKool: Standard issue gear for clearing jungle undergrowth, the alternative being a machete. Fraser preferred the kukri himself. And, of course, a permanent fixture among the Gurkha soldiers, who prefer using their kukris in close assaults rather than fixed bayonets.

[[Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser George MacDonald Fraser's]] memoir of his World War II service in India and Burma as a trooper in the 9th Battalion of the Border Regiment, one of the multitudinous units serving in the British Fourteenth Army. Can be considered a prequel to the Literature/McAuslan stories.

* TemptingFate: The warrant officer in charge of the supply drop, who mentions a NoodleIncident involving some troops of the Border Regiment who apparently stole a massive pink elephant bar sign as part of a bet. The squad, vexed at his cheekiness, proceed to rob him blind right in front of his eyes during the supply drop with no one the wiser: even the author himself never noticed anything until the very end, when the squad starts unloading pilfered contraband from all over the insides of their uniforms after the warrant officer and his subordinates have left. In the grand tradition of military forces everywhere, much of the contraband gets used for bartering.

** In some instances, the squad also shows that they may be more educated than they appear. On one occasion, Grandarse starts reciting Kipling's poetry, even if it's with more profane interjections than the original. At another juncture, Sergeant Hutton "borrows" the author's copy of ''Literature/HenryV''. Fraser assumes that the sergeant will not "get it" and will return it within a day or two, but Hutton keeps it much longer than expected, and when he returns the book to Fraser, he states with conviction that Shakespeare himself must have served in the military at some point, so well had he captured the nature of war in the play.

* TheBigGuy: Grandarse, a ruddy, ponderous man who was a forester and volunteer mountain rescue worker in civilian life. His bulk is applied to good effect in Cumberland wrestling, at which he has few equals. Likewise Wattie, who joins the squad shortly before Kinde Wood and is described as being a "miniature Grandarse".

* TheBigGuy: Grandarse, a ruddy, ponderous man who was a forester and volunteer mountain rescue worker in civilian life. His bulk is applied to good effect in Cumberland wrestling, at which he has few equals.

* CulturedWarrior: Averted or otherwise played with. Among the squad, only the Duke and Fraser have had rigorous formal schooling, and Fraser himself asks his parents for reading materials to keep himself entertained in the field. However, the other squad members all possess a lot of low cunning and are much smarter than they appear.

* DueToTheDead / IfYouDieICallYourStuff: A blend of both happens after Corporal Little (real name [[spoiler:Ike Blakeney]]) gets killed during the first attack on Kinde Wood. The remaining squad members each exchange a piece of Little's standard issue gear for one of their own, taking exceptional care not to claim any personal effects. The author, for instance, exchanges his own enamelled mug for Little's, as the latter's mug is less chipped. Forster claims Little's sewing kit, while Nixon gets Little's rifle.

* StiffUpperLip: Fraser notes the advantages of exercising this trope as a frontline soldier, as it allows people to compartmentalize their reactions to the unpleasant things that inevitably happen around them and move on, rather than dwelling on such things and allowing them to fester and traumatize.

* TheEeyore: Nixon, whose CatchPhrase is "we'll all get killed" or some variation thereof. In fact, most of the characters in general, since Cumbrians are described as being predisposed to complaining, which has a lot of similarity with JewishComplaining despite the troops being all gentiles.

* NoManLeftBehind: During a confused night battle, Stanley and a comrade standing observation post duty become stranded outside friendly lines when the Japanese attack (actually, more or less blunder onto) the perimeter of the patrol detachment the squad is participating in. In the heat of the attack, Stanley makes it back inside the wire, then finds that his partner did not return. He goes back outside of the wire, and finds the man dying of multiple bayonet wounds. He stays at his side so that he will not [[DyingAlone die alone]].

* TheScrounger: The Border troops are this compared to other British troops, and the squad is no different. However, Forster is noted to be this even compared to the rest of the squad--which says quite something about his skills.

* Homage: The title of the book is quoted from the [[Creator/RudyardKipling Kipling]] poem "Gunga Din". At one point, Grandarse starts reciting it ([[SirSwearsALot complete with his own coarse modifications]]), turning it into a TitleDrop.

* NoManLeftBehind: During a confused night battle, Stanley and