In the Ranks of the C.I.V.

The story follows a young man named Robert Eustace who joins the C.I.V. with the hope of gaining some excitement and adventure in his life. Eustace is initially enthusiastic about his new role as a soldier and eagerly learns how to shoot and march with his unit. However as he begins to experience the realities of war Eustace becomes disillusioned with the violence and destruction he witnesses. Eustaces disillusionment is further compounded by the realization that the Boer people are not the uncivilized barbarians he had been led to believe. Instead he discovers that they are ordinary people with families and homes just like himself. Eustace begins to question the motives behind the war and wonders if the violence and bloodshed are really worth it. The story ends with Eustace being wounded in battle and lying on the ground contemplating his experiences and the choices he has made. He realizes that he no longer sees himself as a hero or a patriot but rather as a human being who has been caught up in a senseless war. As he is carried away from the battlefield Eustace wonders what kind of world he will return to and whether it will be one of peace or continued conflict. In the Ranks of the C.I.V. is a powerful anti-war story that explores the human cost of armed conflict and the impact it has on individuals caught up in it. Through Eustaces experiences Childers highlights the futility of war and the need for people to question the motives behind it.