Great Britain was a leading Allied Power during the First World War of 1914–1918, fighting against the Central Powers, especially Germany. The armed forces were greatly expanded and reorganised—the war marked the founding of the Royal Air Force. The highly controversial introduction, in January 1916, of conscription for the first time in British history followed the raising of the largest all-volunteer army in history, known as Kitchener’s Army, of more than 2,000,000 men.  The outbreak of war was a socially unifying event. Enthusiasm was widespread in 1914, and was similar to that across Europe.

This blog was made by Simon Schofield