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Illustrated portrait of Frank Baldry

A character in The Return of the Soldier

Frank Baldry

Chris's clergyman cousin, whose hospital letter confirms the startling diagnosis.

What they want

To give the family an accurate account of Chris's condition and help bring him safely home.

The book

Cover of The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Return of the SoldierRebecca West, 1918

A soldier comes home without fifteen years of memory, forcing three women to decide what a cure would restore—and destroy.

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At a glance

Relationship
Chris's cousin
Work
Clergyman
Location
Boulogne hospital during the diagnosis

Who they are in the book

Spoiler-free

Frank is Chris's cousin and a clergyman. His letter from France confirms that Margaret's telegram is genuine.

He provides dates and medical facts that the insulated household cannot dismiss, bringing the war's administrative reality into Baldry Court.

How the book draws them

Appearance, manner, and tone — as the book sketches them, in our words.

  • Clerical reserveHis role lends authority without making him the moral judge.
  • Hospital correspondentThe letter carries the diagnosis across the Channel.
  • Precise datesHe confirms exactly which years Chris has lost.
  • Family intermediaryHe connects military medicine to the household.
Frank's roleHow the book leaves them, what happened after, and what the record says. Open when you're ready.

His confirmation allows Chris to return to Baldry Court, but he does not direct the later treatment.

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