This article explores how perceived inefficiencies and inadequacies in the militia were reflected in contemporary works of fiction and satire. The militia's public image was consistently poor: half-trained battalions, staffed by inefficient senior officers, chronically short of subalterns and recruiting from the very worst elements of the working class. It suffered from the combined flaws of both regulars and volunteers, but was unable to benefit from either the Christian ‘civilizing mission’ of the former or the earnest patriotic enthusiasm of the latter. This negative image contributed to the ease with which the force was abolished after the Boer War.

中文翻译：

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英国民兵描绘，1852-1916 年

本文探讨了民兵的低效率和不足如何反映在当代小说和讽刺作品中。民兵的公众形象一直很差：训练有素的营，配备效率低下的高级军官，长期缺乏下属，并且从工人阶级中最糟糕的成员中招募。它遭受了常客和志愿者的共同缺陷，但既无法从前者的基督教“文明使命”中受益，也无法从后者的热切爱国热情中受益。这种负面形象有助于在布尔战争后轻松废除该部队。