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Thank you Mike,

Further examples of how in this era, although often horrific, war was seen as somewhat of an adventure, but not forgetting of course the immense sense of pride and duty that existed.

This thread touches on patriotism and the motivation for soldiers serving in the South African (Boer) War 1899-1902. Regarding this there is an interesting quote in "The Story of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry 1798-1998" by David Eddershaw. The quote comes from a book entitled "Trooper 8008" by the Hon Sidney Peel a son of Viscount Arthur Peel a former Speaker of the House of Commons. That is to say young Sidney was very much part of the establishment and served in the first wave of the Oxfordshire Imperial Yeomanry.

"Among the new volunteers was Sidney Peel from Oxfordshire, who with telling insight recorded the motives of his fellow recruits in the Imperial Yeomanry:

Some came because they saw the chance of emigrating at government expense; some from love of sport and excitement; some because their domestic affairs were in a tangle from which enlistment offered a ready escape; some because they were tired of their present occupation; some because they wanted a job; some because they wanted a medal, and some because others came.

Peel remembered only one man who claimed to be motivated by patriotism and he was generally regarded as peculiar."

Perhaps a bit tongue in cheek?

I do love a good quote and that one is very good. It speaks so much truth and the comment about patriotism being peculiar makes me smile.