Britain - Conscription Flashcards
How many men volunteered in the first half of war?
in the first half of the hostilities before conscription was introduced, 2 675 149 men volunteered.
Why did the decision that conscription was necessary come about?
the use of vulgar methods to recruit more men, and the population’s belief that it took the best men and left the ‘shirkers’, led a substantial section of the Conservative Party, some Liberals, notably Lloyd George and Churchill, and a section of the press to the decision that conscription was essential.
What did the British gov introduce as first of the military acts?
British gov introduced the first a series of Military Service Acts in January 1916 as voluntary recruitment methods were not enough to keep pace with the growing casualty rates.
What campaign was led to justify conscription?
campaign led in press to convince the country that conscription was the only way to recruit the estimated 60 000 ‘shirkers’ and ‘slackers’, and that the measure was not ‘anti-democratic’. Conscription was justified by exempting the married, medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial workers. Conscientious objectors, those who objected to fighting on moral grounds, were also exempted and were in most cases given civilian jobs or non-combatant positions at the front.
