Life for the British Army Officer before the war had a number of advantages to civilian life. Below is Lt Rory Macleod of the Royal Horse Artillery's account of the summer of 1914.

"If we had enough horses we could hunt 6 days a week, 4 days with the fox-hounds & 2 with the harriers. Even the subaltern doing section training could hunt occasionally.

He would put on his hunting kit with a military Great coat on top and a forge cap, and, on hunting days, took his section in the gun sheds by electric light on such things as gun drill at 6 am, and the other drills, until it was time for him to leave and, on his return from hunting his poor men were subjected to lectures in the barrack room to make up time.

The country house people were extraordinarily kind. We were often asked out for meals, or to tennis or dances, & sometimes invite us to stay the night and hunt the next day.

Once I drove to a place, danced all night, hunted the next day, then on to another house for dinner and more dancing.

I got back to barracks in the early morning with only enough time to change my clothes & go straight onto parade".

Source "1914 Days of Hope" Lynn McDonald