Note 177 — Chapter VII · 1854-1856. THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA.

Since the Russian War no subjects of a foreign power have been enlisted in a body to serve under the British flag. At the end of the Crimean War a considerable number of the German legion were sent at their own request to South Africa as settlers, where they became useful members of the white population. During the last war with the Boers, the author met in a Free State town an old German cobbler, who, after proudly dilating on his services in the Legion, explained that though he was too old again to shoulder a rifle with the British, he would be proud to mend their boots!