hiː ɹᵻfjˈuːzd ɐ kəmˈɪʃən, ænd sˈɜːvd æz ɐ pɹˈaɪvət sˈoʊldʒɚɹ ɪnðɪ ˈɑːksfɚdʃɚ ænd bˈʌkɪŋˌæmʃɚ lˈaɪt ˈɪnfəntɹi ænd ðə pɹˈɪnsɛs ʃˈɑːɹlət ʌv wˈeɪlzᵻz ɹˈɔɪəl bˈɜːkʃɚ ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt ʌntˈɪl ðɪ ˈɑːɹmɪstɪs.
He refused a commission, and served as a private soldier in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) until the Armistice.