the nature of fighting on the western front 2 Flashcards
How big was the British army at the start of WW1?
150,000 men (by contrast , Germany had 900,000 men).
What was Lord Kitchener able to persuade the government to do once it became clear WW1 would be fought using trench warfare?
Expand the army to 500,000 men.
How close did the British government get to meeting the target of expanding the army to 500,000 men?
The target was smashed. By the end of 1915, 2,466,719 men had volunteered to join the “new armies” known as “Kitchener’s Armies”.
What were the quality of the new recruits?
i. Some were very good.
ii. Some were younger than they should have been (at least 18).
iii. Some passed a medical examination when they really should have failed it.
What was the Military Service Act (law) of 1916?
It introduced conscription (forced service) in Britain.
What were conscientious objectors?
Men who who refused conscription on moral or ethical grounds (they disagreed with the war).
What jobs did soldiers in the Army Service Corps have?
Non-combat. He either worked in a factory close to the French coast or had to travel to the frontline avoiding the heavy German guns to deliver supplies or bring back wounded soldiers.
