[Daisy Cowper’s memoir includes short biographical sketches of each of her seven brothers including Ernest (1883-1938), whose career included being a music journalist, and piano performer, in Canada and the USA. ‘The South African war’ probably refers to the Second Boer War, 1899-1902]

[…] [Ernest] joined the army in 1902, to be a regular for three years, and on the reserve for nine. The South African war ended shortly afterwards. His piano-playing and singing gave pleasure to his comrades, and his services were sought for (and often paid for) by the officers’ mess.