Australia probe 'looting' of Boer War graves

[dArKeR]

Canberra, Australia - Australia will investigate claims that century-old graves of soldiers who died during the Boer War in South Africa have been looted, the government said Sunday.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Dana Vale ordered the probe after receiving reports that valuable stones, plaques and crosses had been taken from the graves. Vale didn't say where the reports originated.

More than 600 Australians died fighting alongside British and other Commonwealth forces in the 1899-1902 conflict against the Boers in what is present day South Africa.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1078662781551B221&set_id=1

My first question is: why would a man in Australia voluntarily get on a boat and sail to the other half of the world to kill other people and possibly be killed himself, in the year 1899? No TV, internet, electricity, hot showers, McDonalds, cars...