The home front

The home front

1. DORA

   • Limited pub licensing hours
     • Alcohol was watered down
     • Could only open between Noon-3PM, 6:30 - 9:30
     • You weren't allowed to buy alcohol on public transport
   • Control over the media - no negative messages about the war, keep up the moral of the country
     • Censorship
     • "No person shall by word of mouth or in writing spread reports likely to cause disaffection or alarm among any of His Majesty's forces or among the civilian population"
     • No "communicating with the enemy"
     • No gaining information to inform the enemy or for any other purpose that may harm "His Majesty's forces"
   • Gave the government power to requisition buildings or land if they decided it was needed for the war effort.
   • 8th August 1914
   • Trivial activities banned.
     • Kite flying
     • Bonfires
     • Discussing military or naval matters
     • Feeding wild animals

2. Munitions of War Act

   • 1915
   • Private companies were supplying the armed forces under the control of the Ministry of Munitions.
   • It became a penal offence for a worker to leave his job unless he had permission from his employer.
   • This was following the Shell Crisis of 1915, supplies to the front a political issue.

3. Conscientious Objectors

   • Definition: "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service"
   • 16,000 men recorded as conscientious objectors.
     • 4,500 sent to do word of national importance such as farming.
     • 2% of Military Service Tribunals.
     • 7,000 ordered to perform non-combat duties
   • Viewed as lazy, cowardly, "shirkers", not willing to make sacrifices for others but willing to benefit from the sacrifices made by others.
     • Many recieved a white feather from women, the sign of cowardice.
   • 35 were taken to France and sentenced to death. This was immediately, however, recuced to 10 years in prison.
   • 6,000 sent to prison.
   • 750,000 appealed against conscription in the first six months.

4. Conscription

   • Britain didn't have enough troops
   • Military service act, January 1916 introduced
   • Single men aged 18 - 41 were called up.
   • Exeptions included men widowed with children, religious ministers and conscientious objectors.
   • In changes to the act during June 1916, married men also had to join up.
   • Age limit was raised to 51 years old.
   • Over 1 million men joined the armed forces voluntarily but the numbers of men joining were dropping.