Recruitment French gov’t officials estimated 13% of men would not appear for their call up– in fact, only 1.5% fail to present themselves Russia- anti-draft riots break out At first Britain was the only country to not conscript – volunteers numbered 750,000 by September ** Remember was will be over by Christmas!

Conscientious Objectors Conscientious objectors were people who simply did not want to fight in World War One. Conscientious objectors became known as 'conscies' or C.O's and they were a sign that not everybody was as enthusiastic about the war as the government would have liked.

Conscription By 1916, volunteers were starting to dry up. The government introduced conscription in (Jan) 1916 – -the law stated that you had to serve your country in the military for a certain period of time. – A 'conscience clause' was added whereby those who had a "conscientious objection to bearing arms" were freed from military service.

Types of conscientious objectors 1) Some were pacifists who were against war in general. 2) Some were political objectors who did not consider the government of Germany to be their enemy 3) Some were religious objectors who believed that war and fighting was against their religion. Groups in this section were the Quakers and Jehovah Witnesses. 4) A combination of any of the above groups.

What did they do for the war? Some men did not want to fight, but were keen to “do their bit” including: Helping in weapons factories Going to the front at stretcher bearers Others refused to do anything associated with war – they are known as “absolutists”

Why conscription? By 1915 the Brits had lost 528,227 killed, wounded or missing (presumed dead) British Army commander in S Africa writes: "Compulsory service is, I believe, as distasteful to the nation as it is incompatible with the conditions of an Army like ours, which has such a large proportion of its units on foreign service. I hold moreover, that the man who voluntarily serves his country is more to be relied upon as a good fighting soldier than is he who is compelled to bear arms."

-Military Service Act- Nicknamed “Batchelors Bill” only unmarried men between 18 and 41 May 1916 – includes married men as well April 1918 men up to age 51 ** also includes a “conscience clause”**

What happened to the objectors? Claimants faced a tribunal to argue their case Took on medical roles or other work of national importance (roads and land work) Absolutists (Tom Attlee) was imprisoned from January 1917 to April 1919 Those imprisoned were leaving their families without a means of support