Recruitment and Conscription

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Learning Resources

Recruitment and Conscription

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British response to the outbreak of war, August 1914
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs" target="_blank"><img alt="BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: RECRUITING AND SCENES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1914" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/e2f515b66c92b4c5e17c3f1c1fb65a4c?itok=6CQLLfp0&action=e&cat=photographs" /></a> BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: RECRUITING AND SCENES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1914<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Q 42033)</a>
 
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs" target="_blank"><img alt="BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: RECRUITING AND SCENES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1914" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/1cb1081b433a6effa2ce0f2dc651b9fa?itok=wgPT7-Ya&action=e&cat=photographs" /></a> BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: RECRUITING AND SCENES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1914<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Q 42033)</a>
 
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 [url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs][img]http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fulwidth_fullheight/public/imagecache/externals/7acde7ec8772319848fa927580e50257?itok=FDdtIngH&action=e&cat=photographs[/img][/url] [url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs]BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: RECRUITING AND SCENES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1914. © IWM (Q 42033)[/url][url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence]IWM Non Commercial Licence[/url]
The First World War began in August 1914. No one knew what kind of war it was going to be or how long it would last, but men rushed to join up and go to war. This photograph shows recruits at the Whitehall Recruiting Office in London.
A dismounted cavalry draft of the 1st Life Guards.
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs" target="_blank"><img alt="BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: 1ST LIFE GUARDS" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/5a369e21752567b73febc33b195c5532?itok=_auLL7ME&action=e&cat=photographs" /></a> BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: 1ST LIFE GUARDS<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Q 66196)</a>
 
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 [url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs][img]http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fulwidth_fullheight/public/imagecache/externals/be93feb1e310ddf09af0dba732162ab8?itok=4iOdThtl&action=e&cat=photographs[/img][/url] [url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs]BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK OF WAR AUGUST 1914: 1ST LIFE GUARDS. © IWM (Q 66196)[/url][url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright/licence]IWM Non Commercial Licence[/url]
In Britain over one million men had volunteered to fight by December 1914. By the end of the war more than four years later, almost one quarter of the total male population had served in the armed forces.
Leeds Pals – Shoulder Badge
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=uniforms%2520and%2520insignia" target="_blank"><img alt="badge, unit, shoulder title, British, 15th & 17th Battalions, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st & 2nd Leeds)" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/25da6593a920ab860861f1773ba3f5ef?itok=jSvvjFB6&action=e&cat=uniforms%2520and%2520insignia" /></a> badge, unit, shoulder title, British, 15th & 17th Battalions, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st & 2nd Leeds)<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (INS 7637)</a>
 
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Many men were encouraged to sign up with their friends and colleagues with the promise that those who ‘joined together should serve together’. This led to what was known as ‘Pals’ battalions.
Lieutenant F B Wade
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Frederick Wade was working for the Mines Department in South Africa when war broke out in Europe. He enlisted in the British Army in January 1915 and this photograph shows him sitting down with his friend Lance-sergeant Dick Darrel from New Zealand. Wade saw active service on the Somme throughout most of 1916 and at Messines in June 1917. He was invalided out of the army in September 1917, before returning to South Africa.
Transcript of a letter written by F B Wade to his mother (page 1)
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This letter was written by Frederick Wade on 20 January 1915 and explains his reasons for enlisting. These include peer pressure, the opportunity to see Europe and his ‘spirit of adventure’.
Transcript of a letter written by F B Wade to his mother (page 2)
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This is the second page of a letter written by Frederick Wade on 20 January 1915, explaining his reasons for enlisting.
Young British Recruits
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Recruiting Officers were paid for each man so some turned a blind eye to underage volunteers. The British government had originally said that no one under 19 years of age would be sent overseas to fight. In April 1918 they lowered the age to 18 after suffering a near-defeat on the Western Front. This photograph was taken in July 1918, when the army were trying to find and remove underage soldiers.
Dummy rifle
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The sudden increase in the number of soldiers meant that, at first, their were serious shortages of uniforms, weapons, and equipment. This dummy rifle is cut from wood and was used by the British Army for training purposes.
Men of the 45th Sikhs (52nd Infantry Brigade, 17th Division).
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs" target="_blank"><img alt="THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/b134f11fccbb1966a25ba46ca198221d?itok=FmNMelmo&action=e&cat=photographs" /></a> THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Q 24777)</a>
 
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Men in the Dominions and Empire also volunteered. In Australia over 415 thousand men enlisted and over a million men of the Indian Army served overseas during the war. Over one hundred thousand New Zealanders, 425 thousand Canadians and Newfoundlanders, and 230 thousand South Africans also served overseas.
Derby Scheme armband, Army
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As the war went on the British Government had to persuade more and more men to go to war. The Derby scheme was introduced in Britain in October 1915 and asked men to register their commitment to serve Under the scheme single men would be called up before married volunteers.
Recruitment Posters
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=posters" target="_blank"><img alt="Britons. Join Your Country's Army!" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/f3bd0e15022a04d3de1001dad18dd6ee?itok=fcncCuXj&action=e&cat=posters" /></a> Britons. Join Your Country's Army!<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Art.IWM PST 2734)</a>
 
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Find out more about First World War recruitment posters from Richard Slocombe, Imperial War Museums' Senior Curator of Art.
New recruits have their kit fitted following enlistment.
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In Britain and the Dominions the issue of conscription (forced military service) caused much controversy. Conscription was finally introduced in Britain and New Zealand in 1916, and in Canada in 1917, although it was not introduced in Australia.
Conscientious objectors
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Conscription was a hugely controversial step. Conscientious objector’s refused to fight on religious or moral grounds, although the proportion of conscientious objectors to men in uniform was very small. This membership card for the No-Conscription Fellowship belonged to William Harrison, who went to prison because he refused to have anything to do with the war. He was a pacifist whose deep religious beliefs told him that killing was wrong.
Women at work during the First World War
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=photographs" target="_blank"><img alt="WOMEN AT WORK DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: MUNITIONS PRODUCTION, CHILWELL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK, c 1917" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/5b675513b9dad1863a840382bf838237?itok=yEeoZGJf&action=e&cat=photographs" /></a> WOMEN AT WORK DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: MUNITIONS PRODUCTION, CHILWELL, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK, c 1917<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Q 30011)</a>
 
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The First World War substantially increased the numbers of women in paid work and the range of jobs that they undertook. The majority of women supported the war effort by working in industry.
The Women's Land Army and German Prisoners
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Women took on jobs that had previously been done by husbands, brothers and fathers, who were now absent, as well as keeping households and families together. This painting by Randolph Schwabe shows two women of the Women's Land Army and two German prisoners-of-war doing important agricultural work.
Women Wanted Urgently
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 <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/learning/resources/recruitment-and-conscription?cat=posters" target="_blank"><img alt="WAAC - Every Fit Woman Can Release A Fit Man" class="" src="http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/fullwidth_400height/public/imagecache/externals/194c8ad0456f603e9fe1bac551f6b27a?itok=oEEqXchu&action=e&cat=posters" /></a> WAAC - Every Fit Woman Can Release A Fit Man<a href="/corporate/privacy-copyright" target="_blank">© IWM (Art.IWM PST 4881)</a>
 
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A number of the leading Suffragettes played an important role in setting up women-only organisations to support the war effort. Their success influenced the decision to create branches of the armed services for women. The first of these was the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs), which was formed in January 1917.