Why would anyone go to war? General recruitment Flashcards
In which year did Britain join the war?
1914
Who foresaw that Britain would need millions of troops?
Lord Kitchener
What was Lord Kitchener’s job?
Secretary of War
How large was the British Army at the outbreak of WWI?
250,000
When did many people believe the war would be over by?
Christmas
Give three reasons why men volunteered to fight
- Fight for king and country
- Defend their loved ones
- For an adventure
How many men joined the army in the first two months?
Over 500,000
By the end of 1914, how many men had joined the army?
1.1 million
Why was there less enthusiasm for volunteering to enlist by 1915?
Having been to war, people now had a better idea what it was really like
In what two ways did the British government try and tackle the loss of enthusiasm in 1915/16?
1) Propaganda
2) Conscription
What is meant by conscription?
When people are forced to join the armed forces
When was conscription introduced?
January 1916
What was the name of the law that introduced conscription in 1916?
The Military Service Act
Which groups of men were forced to enlist from January 1916?
Single men and childless widowers
What was the name given to someone who refused to find on moral grounds?
A conscientious objector
In May 1916, conscription was expanded to cover which other group?
Married men
By the end of the war, how many men had joined the British Army in total?
About 5 million
Of the 5 million men who joined the British Army in total, roughly what percentage were volunteers and what percentage were conscripts?
50% volunteers, 50% conscripts (forced to join)
What is a widower?
A man whose wife has died
What is propaganda?
Information of a misleading nature designed to promote a point of view
