Serge's father had been killed during the insurrection of 1848, and he, when a year old, was brought by his uncle, Thaddeus Panine, to France, and was educated at the College Rollin, where he had not acquired over much learning.
In 1866, at the moment when war broke out between Prussia and Austria, Serge was eighteen years old.

By his uncle's orders he had left Paris, and had entered himself for the campaign in an Austrian cavalry regiment.

All who bore the name of Panine, and had strength to hold a sword or carry a gun, had risen to fight the oppressor of Poland.

Serge, during this short and bloody struggle, showed prodigies of valor.

On the night of Sadowa, out of seven bearing the name of Panine, who had served against Prussia, five were dead, one was wounded; Serge alone was untouched, though red with the blood of his uncle Thaddeus, who was killed by the bursting of a shell.