Home Front 1914-18 Flashcards
Why and when was DORA introduced and what did it consist of ?
DORA was introduced to ensure that the enemy did not receive any information from the public regarding the war.
Introduced on August 8th 1918. The government could suspend human rights.
Those who didn’t comply would face imprisonment.
- The bars and pubs had strict opening hours and beer was diluted.
- Censorship in newspapers.
- People could not use signalling equipment.
- Military matters couldn’t be discussed in public.
- Newspapers would self-censor and censorship of letters found 35,000 possible associations with the enemy and 5000 involved with pacifism.
Describe the War Information Bureau and the Ministry of Information.
The War Information Bureau was set up to control films, books, leaflets, speeches etc.
HG Wells and other authors would write pamphlets to incite outrage at the enemy to increase morale despite death figures. The ‘ Report on Alleged German Outrages,’ was set up to show German atrocities towards the Belgians.
The War Information Bureau was set up in 1918 and consisted of senior newspaper editors who would censor the news.
Describe the key features of war recruitment and the National Registration Act and Derby Scheme.
On 6 August Lord Kitchener made a call for arms for 100,000 men, stating the war would be exciting and won by Christmas.
The Pals Battalions formed consisting of groups of men who fought together, such as the Hulls Pals in the East Yorkshire Regiment. Great losses were made at Sommes.
The NRA was set in July 1915 so men between 15 and 65 had to register to the army due to decreasing enrolment.
The Derby Scheme gave men white armbands with red crowns if they attested to their obligatory enlistment.
Describe the acts passed for conscription.
The Military Service Act of January 1916 included men from 19 to 41 who had been residents such August 1915. Ammended in May to include men from 18-41 who had been residents since 1914 to increase numbers. Men who were single were prioritised.
Labour and Liberal MPs, alongside trade unionists, objected.
Describe those who opposed the war.
Conscientious objectors - refused to fight in the war.
Some didn’t for religious reasons such as Quakers, alongside those who couldn’t due to employment or disability.
Pacifists opposed fighting.
Alternativists would do civilian work or work as stretcher bearers but would not act under military law.
Absolutists wanted nothing to do with fighting.
Describe key features of rationing.
In February 1917, U Boats sank British merchant ships so convoys were used with naval destroyers and depth charges. By April there was 6 weeks of grain left.
In 1917 the King and Queen set up voluntary rationing due to the shortages of bread and expensive nature of meat, but the poor resented this.
By late 1917, panic buying led to the Ministry of Food setting up obligatory rationing. The public would have to be issued with ration cards to reduce the threat of shortages.
Describe key features of women entering employment.
The Order of the White Feather and Mothers Union helped encourage men to fight.
In April 1915 the shell scandal pushed Lloyd George to work with Emmeline Pankhurst to set up a munitions register with factories set up in 1916 as men were conscripted.
Women finally could work beyond nursing and domestic service despite opposition from trade unions.
Women worked 12 hour days in munitions and would pack cordite charges into shells. Exposure to TNT caused women to suffer blood poisoning and brain damage and they turned yellow - canaries.
Many fires and explosions broke out.
By 1917, women welfare officers improved conditions for women.
What roles did women play in war?
Engineering - 800,000 worked in roles such as caustic soda works, breweries, tanneries, and linoleum factories.
Women worked in transport and the Voluntary Police Service.
The Women’s Land Army meant women did work on farms such as milking cows and haymaking.
The VAD and FANYs helped the Royal Navy Medical Corps on the front line for no pay.
The trade unions feared women would replace men.
What changes were made?
More freedom - women would go out unescorted and would go to the cinema with friends and cycle. They now would wear trousers and uniform.
Women showed they could work just as well, if not better, than men.
In 1918 the Representation of People Act was passed to give women over 30 the vote.
