What was the officer’s first impression when he sees the boys pursuing ralph with spears? at what point does he realize what has been happening?

The officer first thought the boys were playing a game. He realizes otherwise when Ralph tells him about the deaths of Simon and Piggy.

Explanation:

The Naval Officer appears at the end of Lord of the Flies, just as Ralph is being chased by the other surviving boys and is fleeing for his life. The naval officer first looks at the war-painted children with sticks and initially thinks it is just a game. The Naval Officer realizes what is happening however when Ralph has to explain the two dead bodies.  the officer begins to understand what has happened. The officer chastises the boys and reprimands them for being so uncivilized and cruel but the Irony in this ending of Golding’s novel is that the Naval Officer is also an agent of senseless violence being at war.