In what way did life on the Home Front change as a result of the First World War and in what, if any sense were these changes of benefit to the British people?

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In what way did life on the Home Front change as a result of the First World War and in what, if any sense were these changes of benefit to the British people?

In 1914 at the start of the First World War, people began to learn what 'total war' was. It introduced many new and different factors to every day life. Women became involved, extra taxation was levied and rationing was imposed on the country. Life in Britain was never to be the same again. In the following essay all of these points will be expanded and explained more fully.

Bombing by German Zeppelins was a very effective method of causing psychological damage in Britain. This was the first time that people at home were actual targets. One defence that Britain had against the attacks were picking out the Zeppelins with ground lights, and shooting up at them. This was ineffectual. However, once the RAF became more reliable the British air defences became stronger. This was a big breakthrough for Great Britain. Though some of the early planes weren't very reliable, by 1915 machine guns were fitted to the planes and by 1918 dogfights in the air were common place1. It was suggested that a bell should be rung to alert people of the Zeppelin raids but it was decided that the public would be curious about the noise and come out into the streets rather than taking it as a warning and shelter inside. Instead of bells a general proclamation was issued for the public to take refuge when they saw the Zeppelins. The bombings prompted conscription.

Many joined the army because of the anger and pain that the bombing raids by the Germans caused them. The new recruits had to be under 41 and older than 16. Although these were the official age bands many young people under 16 attempted to join and most succeeded. Every extra man or boy was of help in the war effort. The army incited many by propaganda and telling lies to influence people to join. In January 1916 conscription started and by May of the same year all eligible men were compelled to join. The only people that didn't have to join were people with jobs that had a use back on the home front or people that were useless to the army. There were people who were conscientious objectors, "Concies". They objected to war on moral, political or religious grounds and refused to fight for king and country. It did not mean that these men were cowards. Some Concies were sentenced to death but many were sentenced to hard labour or non-fighting roles at the front line. On a long term basis conscription did not last except in times of war and the British Army today is reliant on volunteers.
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Men being called away to war directly lead to the start of women working in factories. The general trend became one to divert the women from general service in households to working in munitions factories. Most women worked in munitions factories to make shells for war and guns, but some women worked on farms as farm labourers. These women were called 'Land Girls'. After the men went to war women were the main working force during the war. Without the women at the home front the British had no chance of winning the war, because of the amount ...

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