Experience Of Warfare In Modern Era 1900-Present

Question 1

Recruitment in 1900 (2)

Answer 1

• Cardwell Reforms made the army more professional - length of service lowered, reorganisation of regiments into local regions helped make the army more attractive
• Condition also improved (rations improved, flogging ended) and purchase of commission ended so officers were promoted on merit

Question 2

Continuity of recruitment

Answer 2

Still reliant on volunteers in WW1 (initially)

Question 3

Change of recruitment (6)

Answer 3

• Conscription introduced from 1916 (initially all unmarried men from 18-41) - 3.5m men conscripted from 1916-1918
• Conscription introduced again September 1939 - extended to men up to 51 and women 20-30 in 1941 and again to include women up to 51 in 1943
• Conscientious objectors were imprisoned pr forced into a non-fighting role
• Conscription scaled down into National Service (from 1948) - all men 17-21 had to complete 18 months of military training, then serve in the Army Reserve for 4 years - Ended in 1960
• Women accepted into army in both wars separate women army corps ended in 1992, now serving on an equal basis (1/6 troops were female by 2008)
• Now a regular army of 85,000

Question 4

Training in 1900 (3)

Answer 4

• Royal Military Academy established in Woolwich in 1741 and the Rotal Military College at Sandhurst set up in 1800
• Many more training opportunities for cadets, officers and trainers gave the army a more professional feel by 1900
• Some training offered to Boer War recruits poor

Question 5

Continuity of Training

Answer 5

Training of volunteers/conscripts during WW1 not that effective - Many were sent to war unprepared for what they were to experience

Question 6

Change of training (4)

Answer 6

• Levels of training improved significantly over the C.20
• Army now uses high technology equipment so training is very important
• Army recruits sign up at least 4 year with 14 weeks basic training. Specialist troops train for a year or more
• Officer training lasts for 1 year

Question 7

Provisions in 1900

Answer 7

After the awful management of supplies during the Crimean war of 1850s, changes were made to make supplying the army more professional - War Office took control of all supplies

Question 8

Continuity of provisions

Answer 8

War office continued to supply the army until 1964

Question 9

Change of provisions (3)

Answer 9

• System of supplying troops in world wars quite efficient
• Improvements in transport and communications mean that supplying troops became more effective in C.20
• Ministry of Defence now overseas supplies

Question 10

Experience of civilians in 1900 (3)

Answer 10

• Impact on civilians 1700-1900 relatively minor compared to experience of the Civil war in the 1600s
• But increased press coverage made people more aware of war and more politically more aware and active
• News of warfare prompted changes in attitudes in society from increased Imperialism/Jingoism in some to pacifism in others

Question 11

Continuity of experience on civilians

Answer 11

Press coverage continued to make people more aware of war

Question 12

Change of experience of civilians (7)

Answer 12

• More civilians enlisted and killed (700,000 in WW1, 450,000 in WW2)
• DORA - Defence of the Realm Act gave government unprecedented powers to control people’s lives
• Civilians became targets - 1414 killed in WW1, 40,000 WW2
• Rationing limited supplies, homelessness due to bombing, evacuation of children from cities
• Home Guard (Older men), Civil Defence (ARP wardens etc), Women’s voluntary service (WVS)
• Fear of nuclear war - constant throughout Cold War period
• Women societal position improved, significant medical development (e.g blood transfusions, x-rays) - social reforms sparked by experience of war (education, NHS)

Question 13

War reporting in 1900 (3)

Answer 13

• Many more provincial papers by 1850
• Russel wrote many reports on Crimea in the Times and Fenton photographed battlefield. Both of these men bought the Crimean war ‘home’ to make people more aware of war
• Press coverage of Boer war (1899-1902) further increased the public’s awareness

Question 14

Continuity of war reporting

Answer 14

Newspapers continued to report on War to keep people informed

Question 15

Change of war reporting (5)

Answer 15

• Censorship
• Propaganda used more effectively
• Changes in technology made a huge difference - radio, TV, satellite links
• Embedded journalists in modern warfare - live and work alongside soldiers and report directly from the front line
• Attitudes to warfare have changed in society - people more aware of the human and financial cost of war so generally less supportive of it