The First World War breaks out eight weeks after the events of "The Thirty-Nine Steps", and Hannay immediately joins the New Army, and is promptly commissioned captain on the strength of his Matebele campaign experience. He is wounded in the leg and neck in the Battle of Loos in September 1915, by which time he had reached the rank of major. "Greenmantle," the sequel to "The Thirty-Nine Steps" begins in late 1915, with Hannay in Hampshire where he has arrived to convalesce after Loos. During the events of "Greenmantle", his work as a spy in wartime Europe and Turkey earn him a DSO and CB, respectively. Following this, he returns to regular service in the army and is rapidly promoted to brigadier-general. In early 1917, however, he is called back to the Secret Service to hunt a dangerous German spy during the decisive months of the First World War. As told in "Mr Standfast", he meets and falls in love with Mary Lamington, an intelligent, beautiful young nurse and fellow spy. Later, in 1918, now promoted to major-general, he returns to the front lines and participates in desperate fighting following the Germans' massive, last-ditch effort to win the war.