SLC, mixed message in your post there.
Those at home can't do the sack cloth and ashes bit when the others are up to their necks in muck and bullets. What have they go to look forward to when they come home? Work hard; play hard.
IIRC, during the Falklands we still managed to maintain a full ceremonial in HorseGuards. In GW1 build-up the CinC stood UK based troops down for 3 weeks over Christmas.
It sort of sends a message. After all Germany didn't mobilise until 1943.