[Mother Ginger has had so many children, she doesn't always remember which of the soldiers are hers; so she treats all of them indiscriminately as her own, and Marsh has always been a favourite. She reaches up to drop a kiss on his forehead and brushes imaginary dust off his uniform.]

Don't be daft, sweetheart, who else is going to look after my brave lads? Now, 'ave you got a clean hanky and plenty of snowballs?