How Recruitment affected Civilian Life
Recruitment for the U.K was called conscription, this began as soon as the war was declared. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act meant able bodied men aged between 18 and 41 were liable for conscription; it was decided that single men would be called up to war before married men.
There were lots of different periods of time that men were required to register. The first group was men aged 20 to 23- they were required for conscription on the 21st October 1939. This was just the start of a very long process- 40-year-olds were registering in June 1941!
At the end of 1939 over 1.5 million men had been conscripted to join the British Armed Forces. Over 1.1 million of those went to the British Army, the rest either went to the Royal Navy or the RAF.
There were lots of different periods of time that men were required to register. The first group was men aged 20 to 23- they were required for conscription on the 21st October 1939. This was just the start of a very long process- 40-year-olds were registering in June 1941!
At the end of 1939 over 1.5 million men had been conscripted to join the British Armed Forces. Over 1.1 million of those went to the British Army, the rest either went to the Royal Navy or the RAF.
Home Guard
The Home Guard was a British defence organisation that was designed as a secondary defence, in case of an invasion from Nazi Germany. This ran from 1940 until 1944 and comprised 1.5 million volunteers who were eligible for army service- generally through age. This is why the home guard was nicknamed 'Dad's Army'.
The Home Guard were poorly armed as priority went to the forces, instead, they often had weapons such as pitch forks and shotguns. Some officers from the Great War used their revolvers, a number of groups even attempted to make armed vehicles by adding steel panels!
The Home Guard were poorly armed as priority went to the forces, instead, they often had weapons such as pitch forks and shotguns. Some officers from the Great War used their revolvers, a number of groups even attempted to make armed vehicles by adding steel panels!
Created by Jamie McMurtrie
2011 ©
2011 ©
