CONSCRIPTION IN BRITAIN
Almost a year after WWI began, it became painfully obvious that the government could not rely on volunteers to join the war against Germany. The government saw no alternative to increase the amount of men for the war by introducing conscription. The British government and society were divided in their views, but nevertheless, conscription was introduced due to the need for immediate action.
King George V, issued a statement, in 1915, encouraging conscription and recruitment.
I rejoice in my Empire's effort, and I feel pride in the voluntary response from my subjects all over the world who have sacrificed home, fortune, and life itself, in order that another may not inherit the free Empire which their ancestors and mine have built.
I ask you to make good these sacrifices.
The end is not in sight. More men and yet more are wanted to keep my armies in the field, and through them to secure victory and enduring peace. In ancient days the darkest moment has ever produced in men of our race the sternest resolve.
I ask you, men of all classes, to come forward voluntarily, and take your share in the fight. In freely responding to my appeal you will be giving your support to our brothers who, for long months, have nobly upheld Britain's past traditions and the glory of her arms.’ King George V, statement issued on 11th October, 1915.
In 1916, the Military Service Act was introduced. This new law enabled conscription be introduced on all single men aged between 18 and 41. This law exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers, and few others. If men objected to fighting and conscription due to conscientious objectors (their religion or morals), they were treated with distaste by the public. The British population saw these ‘conchies’ as cowards. It became the norm for ‘conchies’ to be imprisoned and receive harsh treatment.
Men who refused to fight on the front line, could be punished by ‘Field Punishment Number One.’
Private Frank Bastable described this punishment in a diary entry in 1917.
‘…I accidentally let off a round. I had to go before the CO and got No.1 Field Punishment. I was tied up against a wagon by ankles and wrists for two hours a day… in the middle of winter and under shell fire.’
In May of 1916 when even more men were needed for the front line, a second Act was introduced to extend conscription of married men. Conscription proved to be unpopular in April 1916, when over 200, 000 people demonstrated against it in Trafalgar Square.
In 1918, the last few months of the war saw the Military Service Act Amendment raise the limit to age 51. Overall, the war saw over 2.5 million men be conscripted and was extended until 1920 to enable the army to deal with continuing trouble spots in the Empire and parts of Europe.
Interesting fact: Conscription was not applied to Ireland because of the 1916 Easter Rising, although in fact many Irishmen volunteered to fight.
'Initial enthusiasm for the war evaporated during 1915, as shown in the drop in voluntary recruitment in England for that year. As the worst aspects of trench life began to impose on the soldiers, despair replaced enthusiasm. This feeling was accentuated after the dreadful losses on the Somme in 1916, in which Kitchener’s new army was virtually wiped out.'
Dennett, B. and Dixon, S., Key Features of Modern History, 2005
King George V, issued a statement, in 1915, encouraging conscription and recruitment.
I rejoice in my Empire's effort, and I feel pride in the voluntary response from my subjects all over the world who have sacrificed home, fortune, and life itself, in order that another may not inherit the free Empire which their ancestors and mine have built.
I ask you to make good these sacrifices.
The end is not in sight. More men and yet more are wanted to keep my armies in the field, and through them to secure victory and enduring peace. In ancient days the darkest moment has ever produced in men of our race the sternest resolve.
I ask you, men of all classes, to come forward voluntarily, and take your share in the fight. In freely responding to my appeal you will be giving your support to our brothers who, for long months, have nobly upheld Britain's past traditions and the glory of her arms.’ King George V, statement issued on 11th October, 1915.
In 1916, the Military Service Act was introduced. This new law enabled conscription be introduced on all single men aged between 18 and 41. This law exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers, and few others. If men objected to fighting and conscription due to conscientious objectors (their religion or morals), they were treated with distaste by the public. The British population saw these ‘conchies’ as cowards. It became the norm for ‘conchies’ to be imprisoned and receive harsh treatment.
Men who refused to fight on the front line, could be punished by ‘Field Punishment Number One.’
Private Frank Bastable described this punishment in a diary entry in 1917.
‘…I accidentally let off a round. I had to go before the CO and got No.1 Field Punishment. I was tied up against a wagon by ankles and wrists for two hours a day… in the middle of winter and under shell fire.’
In May of 1916 when even more men were needed for the front line, a second Act was introduced to extend conscription of married men. Conscription proved to be unpopular in April 1916, when over 200, 000 people demonstrated against it in Trafalgar Square.
In 1918, the last few months of the war saw the Military Service Act Amendment raise the limit to age 51. Overall, the war saw over 2.5 million men be conscripted and was extended until 1920 to enable the army to deal with continuing trouble spots in the Empire and parts of Europe.
Interesting fact: Conscription was not applied to Ireland because of the 1916 Easter Rising, although in fact many Irishmen volunteered to fight.
'Initial enthusiasm for the war evaporated during 1915, as shown in the drop in voluntary recruitment in England for that year. As the worst aspects of trench life began to impose on the soldiers, despair replaced enthusiasm. This feeling was accentuated after the dreadful losses on the Somme in 1916, in which Kitchener’s new army was virtually wiped out.'
Dennett, B. and Dixon, S., Key Features of Modern History, 2005
CONSCRIPTION IN Germany
Compulsory military training was introduced in 1871, and was still in place in 1914; therefore, the army was large and there was an even larger group of men whom they could call on, thus early recruitment was not a problem. Men were trained previous to WWI on how to load a gun, the nature of war, and survival skills. The German army placed an emphasis on high quality training and maintaining a large number of experienced officers. In 1914, the German army was recognised as having the most efficient army throughout its universal conscription and short-term military service, and longer periods in the reserve.
G. W. Steevens, The Daily Mail (1987) on the German Army.
‘The German Army is the post perfectly adapted, perfectly running machine. Never can there have been a more signal triumph of organisation over complexity. The armies of other nations are not so completely organized. The German Army is the finest thing of its kind in the world; it is the finest thing in Germany of any kind. Briefly, the difference between the German and, for instance, the English armies is a simple one. The German Army is organised with a view to war, with the cold, hard, practical, business-like purpose of winning victories. And what should we ever do if 100,000 of this kind of army got loose in England?’
Interesting fact: After the war the Treaty of Versailles dictated that the German Army can only have 100,000 men and no conscription.