Why is it surprising that Elwin (Leper) Lepellier is the first Devon boy to enlist? In what ways is he different from the other boys who talk of enlisting?

Leper is not a violent or aggressive boy yet he joins the army. He enlists in the army he is overwhelmed. The burden of what he saw and the stress of the war are too much for him to bear and he goes mad. Leper can't handle the aggressiveness and ruthless discipline the army inflicts.