The Journey to War- How Local Soldiers were Recruited “Would you have been recruited during WW1?”

1. The Journey to War- How Local Soldiers were Recruited “Would you have been recruited during WW1?”

2. Group of Soldiers from the Northumberland Hussars, 1914 In August 1914, the British army had fewer than half a million full-time soldiers and so there was an appeal for new soldiers and hundreds of thousands of men began to volunteer. Soldiers had be at least 18 years old to join the army but lots of younger teenagers lied about their age and some as young as 13 or 14 went to war.. The age limit was 41 and some occupations were exempt. Out of nearly 1000 battalions raised during the first two years of the war, over two thirds were locally-raised Pals battalions – groups of friends or work colleagues who wanted to fight together. In 1916, a law was passed to say men had to join the war whether they wanted to or not. This was called conscription.

3. Army Reserve Form Michael Betson was a miner from Houghton-le-Spring. The Army Reserve was a pool of men who had already completed a term of service with the regular army. The Army Reservists were mobilised in early August 1914. Many went to fill up the ranks of the regular army units.

4. The swearing-in of new Tyneside Irish and Scottish recruits, Corn Exchange, Town Hall, Newcastle, 12 November 1914. At every public gathering there was an opportunity to enlist. At half-time on the last League game to be played at St James’ Park in wartime, the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries spoke urging volunteers to come forward and leaflets were handed out.

5. Recruits in the Great Hall, Discovery Museum During the War the Discovery Museum was the North Eastern Headquarters of the Co-operative Wholesale Society and was called Blandford House. The Co-op reserved the jobs of members of staff who joined the army during the war and continued to pay them full wages. Pressures to volunteer followed a young man wherever he went; friends and family, advertising campaigns and newspapers.

6. Propaganda Posters The initial response to the call for volunteers was overwhelming, but didn’t last. Steps were taken to ensure further enlistment. Posters were printed to make the army look exciting and to persuade men that it was their duty to join and they would feel proud if they did.