The Experience of Modern Warfare

Question 1

Describe the changes in recruitment between 1914-18 (WW1).

Answer 1

1914 : thousands needed to replace casualties - appeal for volunteers.

1916 : Military Service Act, introduces conscription for unmarried men aged 18-41, and later married men.

1918 : conscription ends.

Question 2

Describe the changes in recruitment between 1939-45 (WW2).

Answer 2

1939 : National Service Act reintroduces conscription.

1941 : conscription also applies to men aged up to 51, and unmarried women aged 20-30.

1943 : age limit for conscripted women increased to 51.

Question 3

Describe the changes in recruitment in the 1960s.

Answer 3

Return to permanent, volunteer standing army.

Question 4

Describe the other methods of recruitment utilised between 1900-present day.

Answer 4

1. Government propaganda encouraged men to enlist, but the scale of casualties put off recruits.
2. PALs Battalions were made up of local volunteers from the same community.
3. National service (introduced in 1948) meant all men aged 17-21 had to complete 18 months’ military training and service followed by four years in the reserves.

Question 5

What was conscription?

Answer 5

Where people have to serve in the armed forces (rather than volunteering).

Question 6

Describe the recruitment of women between 1900 to present day using dates.

Answer 6

1916 : Women worked as nurses in Voluntary Aid Detachments behind the front line.

1917-18 : Women recruited into armed forces in the Auxiliary Corps, Women’s Royal Naval Service and the Women’ Air Force.

1941 : Unmarried women aged 20-30 could be conscripted. The Women Voluntary Service (WVS) had one million civilian members.

1944 : 212,000 women served in a range of uniformed military-based roles.

1992 : Women integrated into “male” units.

Question 7

Describe the development of the professional army between 1900-present day.

Answer 7

• Pay + conditions match other careers.
• High-tech equipment means a high level of training and skill is needed.
• Recruits can sign up for at least four years. Basic training lasts 14 weeks; training for specialist units takes longer.
• Over 80% of officers join as graduates and train for around a year.
• The Territorial Army (or Army Reserves) provides a trained reserve force.

Question 8

What was “total warfare”?

Answer 8

• Developments of the scale of weaponry led to wars wars of attrition, where an enemy is worn down until in runs out of manpower and resources.
• Total warfare : where civilians were attacked as well as enemy soldiers.