'World on Fire' Season 2's Penultimate Episode is Filled with Love & Loss

This week's World on Fire actually starts in France, but for continuity's sake, we'll discuss Libya first and then backtrack since most of the season has led off with North Africa. Also, like in France, things are pretty dire. The British soldiers are on half-rations for drinking water and shave using a tiny, shared amount of water. If the men go outside, they have to sweep away their tracks in the sand so that they remain undetected. Harry goes outside and sweeps, while Rajib frets that he is dangerously dehydrated.

Sir James: We walked past him every day and looked the other way. You might think that was callous, but really it was a kind of courage, an acceptance of our lot. We knew that at any moment that faceless body could be one of us. We saw but we did not look. If you can find this same cool courage maybe you will survive this war intact.

Rajib proposes a patrol to find a well, and they wind up capturing one held by German soldiers, who surrender when taken by surprise. The water needs to be purified (it's half oil), but before they can complete the task, there’s a massive explosion, a burst of gunfire, and Stan is killed. They leave, with Stan’s body on the floor of the truck, accompanied by a captured German, Brandt (Adrian Julius Tillman), jeering and mocking them, and questioning the Indian soldiers’ loyalty to Britain. Harry makes him dig Stan’s grave.