British army in wwii
British army in wwiiThe British Army in World War 2
During the First World War, the British Army was transformed from a voluntary, professional force backed up by a voluntary reserve into a 'national' army recruited by conscription. It was able to make this transition without a material decline in its' effectiveness, and this is a considerable credit to the regimental system and the calibre of its personnel. At the start of the war, there was probably no or very little anti-German feeling amongst the ranks of the army, but instead probably a preparedness to take on anyone.
Once war was declared and mobilization ordered, the recruiting offices were swamped with volunteers, rising to 33,000 per day in September 1914, who could hardly be accommodated in barracks or equipped. After the rush slowed, in July 1915 the National Registration Act provided for the listing of all men aged 18-41, and in October 1915 the 'Derby Scheme' provided for the enlistment of recruits for one day's service, then passing to the reserve for call-up when required, this brought in some two million men by the end of the year. Conscription was introduced by the Military Service Act of January 1916, which rendered liable all single men aged 18-41, extended to married men in May 1916; Exemptions were permitted from reserved occupation to conscientious objection. The creation of the Ministry of National Service in November 1917 transferred recruiting to civil control, and in April 1918 another Military Service Act extended the age limit to 51, and the government was compelled to abandon its undertaking not to send aboard troops under the age...
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