After the Cardwell Reforms of the early 1880s, the new British army become so closely associated with the lesser colonial campaigns of the age that it seemed to have been created for that specific purpose. These little expeditions could never have been actuated by any profound motives of patriotism; they were never fought for great causes. There was never a Peninsula, a Waterloo, or even a Crimea to stir the emotions, but only a small distant campaign, often punitive in character, which had become normal in the protection of trade interests. Occasionally, it is true, there was the stimulus of the rescue of some hard-pressed colonists or of a garrison beleaguered by bloodthirsty tribesmen. Consequently, it was left to the traditions of the past, the old standards of regimental honour and duty, to inspire the soldier to suffer the hardships and perils of the Victorian small wars -- warfare that was often an arduous struggle against tropical nature, or filled with small yet adventurous battles and breathless incident. Casualties were generally very light, although on rare occasions they might prove most severe. In these actions the quality of the soldier counted for much; at one time he might be engaged in a gamble for life or death in the face of primitive and not seldom barbarous foe. Thus war was regarded as a form of sport, very dangerous sport. But it had its rewards -- great awards and public applause for officers: perphaps a good deal less for the men in the ranks! Accordingly it was treated as agay sort of war, almost a matter for rejoicing. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 126 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1972 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com