When Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, the British empire also automatically entered the conflict. However, its diverse populations saw the monarchy's role in very different ways.
Many white troops from the dominions, particularly those who were first-genera¬tion immigrants from Britain, rushed to volunteer and cited serving the king as a motivation. Others were far more cynical. One white South African soldier flippantly referred to the king's message of farewell to his regiment as a "kiss-me-goodbye" message. Some Australian units ex¬pressed anti-monarchist sentiments. Australian major Frank Weir wrote: “There is talk of the PRINCE coming out to review us - educating a man for a job I doubt he will ever get - Ft our men are restless."