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
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.
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.
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.