iSoldiers and Gentlemeni recounts the Great War history of four unusual infantry units the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st Service Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers. They were recruited from former university students and public school boys who chose to serve as 'gentleman rankers' rather than as officers. These units were criticized as 'Chocolate Soldiers' or 'rotten men'. iSoldiers and Gentlemeni will re-examine their reputation and effectiveness.brbrThe recruiting and training of the four 'Service' battalions of the University and Public Schools Brigade commenced in September 1914. Special permission was sought from Lord Kitchener his brief reply was, 'Go ahead, and if you can raise 10,000 men I shall be all the better pleased.' Training commenced at Epsom and Leatherhead before the unit was moved to Clipstone Nottinghamshire and Tidworth Wiltshire for collective and pre-deployment training. Many members left to pursue commissions elsewhere in Kitchener's Army throughout this time. After