How much change was there in recruiting soldiers in the 20th century?

Learning objective – to be able to identify changes and continuities in Modern English armies recruitment. I can describe the key changes and continuities in Modern English recruitment. Grade 3 I can explain the key changes and continuities in Modern English recruitment. Grade 6 I can explain and assess changes and continuities in Modern English recruitment. Grade 9

How did recruitment change during the First World War? When war was declared in 1914, Britain had a relatively small army and needed many more men to join up. The Government began a huge push to recruit men to join up. This campaign was led by the Secretary of War, Lord Kitchener, and used posters, songs and newspapers. This was very successful as many men joined up in search of adventure and patriotic duty. By the end of the war, 2.6 million men had volunteered to serve. By 1916, the level of volunteers was drying up and the government saw the need to conscript men. Two Military Service Acts were passed which obliged men aged between 18 and 41 to serve which later extended to married men. 2.7 million men were conscripted. Conscription ended in 1918.

How did recruitment change during the Second World War? When war was declared in 1939, the government reintroduced conscription with the National Service Act. This was wider than the First World War with all men aged between 18 and 51 liable to be called up. Over 3.5 million men were conscripted. This act was extended to women for the first time. Unmarried women were obliged to serve and could choose to enlist in either the armed forces or alternative part of the war effort, such as factory work.

How did recruitment change after the Second World War? After the Second World War, conscription was scaled back with the National Service Act in 1948 which introduced national service where all men aged between 17 and 21 had to complete military training and service and serve for 4 years. This was done to maintain a military presence in the British Empire as well as counter the threat of the developing Cold War. National service ended in 1960 as the government returned to recruitment rather than conscription. Changes to recruitment since 1960 include – Age limited from 16 to 33. Length of service changed to 22 years. Increasing recruitment of women.

How did the position of women inthe armed forces change in the 20th century? The recruitment of women in the First World War was limited before 1917 to nursing but widened in 1917 to the Auxiliary Corps, Women’s Royal Naval Service and Women’s Air Force. This was expanded in the Second World War as 212,000 women were recruited and conscripted to military-based uniformed roles. These changes were down to changing social attitudes towards women as well as the need in total warfare to use all resources to the maximum. The role of women in the armed forces developed significantly in 1991 when women began to serve in combat roles alongside men. By 2015, nearly 10% of soldiers in the British Army were women, although some regiments still bar women from serving, such as the SAS.

How has the British army increased in its professionalism during the 20th century? Pay and conditions match other careers. High-tech equipment requires high levels of training and skill. Recruits sign up for at least four years. Over 80% of officers join as graduates and train for around a year.

Task – sort out the cards under the headings – No Change, Some Change and Lots of Change By 2015, 10% of all soldiers in the British Army were women. National Service between 1948 and 1960 conscripted men for military service in peacetime. Between 1914 and 1916, the largest and most successful recruitment campaign took place. National Service Act of 1939 widened the age range for military service. Since 1960 recruitment has been entirely voluntary. Total warfare encouraged the use of women in the war effort. Two Military Service Acts in 1916 imposed conscription into the British forces. Women were conscripted into the British Army for the first time in 1939. Over 80% of officers are graduates in 2015.

Task Draw a timeline from 1900 to 2015. Space out the years in decades. Above your timeline, mark the key events that relate to recruitment in the army, giving brief details. Below your timeline, mark the key events for women in the army, giving brief details.

Plenary – My Brain Subheading – My Brain Draw an outline of your brain. Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.