six o'clock
Canada , South Africa , Australia , and New Zealand , to say nothing of smaller offshoots of the Empire , had rallied to the flag . Boers who fourteen years previously had fought doggedly and determinedly against England volunteered for service , and their offer was accepted for expeditions against German West Africa and then against German East , while shoulder to shoulder with their late enemies were Imperial troops , including Indian and West African contingents . Amongst the reinforcements from the latter was the Nth West African Regiment . By six o'clock breakfast was over and the troops were falling in for parade and C.O. 's inspection . As Second Lieutenant Wilmshurst crossed the dusty barrack `` square , '' which was a rectangle enclosed on three sides by the native huts and on the fourth by the Quartermaster 's `` stores '' and orderly room , he found that the men of his platoon were already drawn up in full marching order . At the sight of their young officer -- for it was the first time for several weeks that Wilmshurst had appeared on parade -- a streak of dazzling ivory started and stretched from end to end of the line as the Haussas ' mouths opened wide in welcoming smiles , displaying a lavish array of teeth that contrasted vividly with their ebony features . That Wilmshurst was popular with his men there could be no doubt .