Home Front

Home Front

1. DORA

   • Defence of Realm Acts 1914
   • Govt. controlled industry
   • Munitions Crisis July 1915 exposed by Daily Mail
   • July 1915 Lloyd George Minister of Munitions, Dec 1916 PM
   • MOM controlled key industry
   • Jobs for women
   • Set u Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Food
   • Dilution - unskilled did some jobs

2. Conscription

   • Lord Kitchener Minister for War
   • Recruitment at first but slowed after massive losses
   • Military Service acts (Jan and May 1916)
   • 1st 6 weeks 500,000+ signed up, requirements lowered from 5ft8 to 5ft3
   • National Register and Derby Scheme failed
   • Conscientious Objectors - white feather

3. Rationing

   • Took over land to grow crops
   • 1917 severe shortages because of U-boat warfare
   • May 1917 voluntary rationing then Meatless Days
   • Nov 1917 Ninepenny Loaf law and rationing propaganda
   • Early 1918 sugar meat butter tea beer rations - stiff penalties
   • Largely successful - no starvation

4. Civilian Injuries

   • Dec 1914 shelling East Coast
   • Jan 1915 East Anglia zeppelin - 1500 killed, 3000 injured

5. Women

   • Pre war Victorian attitude
   • Patriotism more important than vote
   • Increased respect from men
   • 1918 votes for 30+women

6. Propaganda

   • Strong Anti Germany feeling
   • Ministry of Information led by Lord Beaverbrook
   • Censorship
   • Whipped up emotions
   • Persuasion to help war effort