[With the Malakand Field Force in 1897] I wore my long cavalry sword well sharpened. After all, I had won the Public Schools fencing medal.

... [F]iring got so hot that my grey pony was unsafe ... I remained till the last and here I was perhaps very near my end ... I was close to both officers when they were hit almost simultaneously and fired my revolver at a man at 30 yards who tried to cut up Poor Hughes' body. He dropped but came on again. A subaltern -Bethune by name and I carried awounded sepoy for some distance and might perhaps, had there been any gallery, have received some notice. My pants are still stained with the mans blood... I felt no excitement and very little fear. All the excitement went out when things became really deadly ... I rode on my grey pony all along the skirmish line where everyone else was lying down in cover. Foolish perhaps - but I play for high stakes and givenan audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.

It is better to be making the news than taking it; to be an actor rather than a critic.

As someone said, you will never get to the end of the journey if you stop to shy a stone at every dog that barks.

Before the war it had seemed incredible that such terrors and slaughters, even if they began, could last more than a few months. After the first two years it was difficult to believe that they would ever end.

I’m finished ... I’m done. What I want above all things is to take some active part in beating the Germans ... I’d go out to the Front at once.

We should lay aside every hindrance and endeavour by uniting the whole force and spirit of our people to raise again a great British nation standing up before all the world; for such a nation, rising in its ancient vigour, can even at this hour save civilization.

I myself find waiting more tiring than action.

Luckily ... there were Zulus and Afghans, also the Dervishes in the Soudan. Some of these might, if they were well-disposed, ’put up a show’ some day.