Journey’s End isn’t so much about war. It is about a friendship which suffers because of situations brought about by the war.  It is also very much about vastly different personalities being thrown together because of the war and just trying to get along under exceptional circumstances.  It is quite clear that many of these men would not have sought out each other’s company in any other situation.  Even though many of the characters do not show it, their fear is there, the prospect of death is there and is handled in their own individual ways. And the tedium is there; the long wait for something to happen.  (In fact, Sherriff originally called his play Suspense then Waiting and finally Journey’s End).  However, whilst the war progresses only 60 yards away, private, domestic and trivial situations seem to become of great importance. Perhaps they felt that if they didn’t voice it, the ghastly inevitability would not happen. Talking about the lack of pepper at dinner was probably more acceptable than talking about whether they might survive until the next dinner.