The declaration of war in August 1914 was popular because everyone knew Britain was unbeatable. They’d been fed a century of triumphs in colonial wars. Even the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade, 1854,was seen as a success….(a bit like Dunkirk).

Passionate support meant conscription was unnecessary. Enthusiasm was turbo-charged by thinking the war would last a few months. ‘Hurry-up and be a hero’ before it was all over.

After five months the war had become brutal attrition. This surprised everyone, especially generals who had planned a war of mobility. Soldiers became ‘cannon fodder’ and enthusiastic volunteering petered out.

The White Feather Campaign¹ used social pressure on men who hadn’t volunteered. It was a shaming technique. Women handed out white feathers to men signaling they were cowards. The only evidence the women had was that men weren’t in uniform. Even underage boys and soldiers on leave got feathers.

It was driven by hysteria. Many women were bereaved and embittered. The campaign failed and conscription began in 1916 forcing men into the army. This was enforced with prison for those refusing to join-up. Additionally, immense pressure was exerted on their families to conform, where whole families were described as ‘rotten’.