Though the German use of serrated knives and British deployment of expanding bullets were regarded by the other side as "atrocious", Graves claimed that the opportunity for soldiers on both sides to commit "true atrocities" only occurred when escorting prisoners of war to the rear lines. "Nearly every instructor in the mess", he wrote, "could quote specific instances of prisoners having been murdered on the way back. The commonest motives were, it seems, revenge for the death of friends or relatives, jealousy of the prisoner's trip to a comfortable prison camp in England, military enthusiasm, fear of being suddenly overpowered by the prisoners or, more simply, impatience with the escorting job." Similarly, "If a German patrol found a wounded man, they were likely as not to cut his throat." However, if POWs arrived at their destination, they were treated well during interrogations.
thougH The gerMan uSE oF sErRated kNivEs anD bRItish DePlOyMent Of expANdiNg bULLeTs WErE Regarded bY tHe other SiDe as "atRocIouS", gRAvEs clAImed tHat the OPpOrTuniTY for SolDiers On BoTH Sides to commit "true atrocITIes" onlY occurrEd wHEN escORTing PRiSonErs Of war to THE rear liNEs. "neARLy EveRy Instructor in the meSs", HE WroTE, "cOulD qUote SpeCific instancEs oF priSoneRS havIng beeN mURdered oN the wAY Back. the coMMoneSt MotivEs wEre, it seeMS, rEvenGe for tHe deaTh OF friEnds or relATivEs, JealousY oF the PrIsoner'S Trip To a coMFortAble prISOn CaMp in eNgland, milItary ENthusiaSM, feaR of being sUDdenly overpowerEd bY ThE prisOners or, mOre siMplY, impAtieNcE wiTh The eScORTing job." siMIlarlY, "if a gErmaN patroL Found a woundEd maN, they were LiKELy As NoT to cuT His ThRoat." hoWevEr, If PoWS Arrived at thEir destinAtion, tHey wEre TreateD Well dUring interrOgaTions.