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An introduction to the Home Front in the Great War with an emphasis on the lives of women and children.

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Citation: C N Trueman "The Home Front 1914 to 1918"
historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, . .

The Home Front during World War One refers to life in Britain during the war itself. The Home Front saw a massive change in the role of women, rationing, the bombing of parts of Britain by the Germans (the first time civilians were targeted in war), conscientious objectors and strikes by discontented workers. The whole nation was under the jurisdiction of DORA (Defence of the Realm Act).

When war was declared in August 1914, there were street celebrations throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain. Such scenes were repeated throughout Europe. Many believed that the war would be over by Christmas 1914 and many young men rushed to answer the call to arms - as did many men who were too old to serve but wanted to show their patriotism. The government asked for 100,000 volunteers but got 750,000 in just one month. The public was quickly deluged with numerous propaganda posters to encourage everyone in their nation's time of need.

Those who did not want to join the military could be targeted by people as cowards - being handed white feathers and being refused service by shops and pubs etc. Many believed that victory against Germany - and a quick one at that - was a certainty and the vast bulk of the nation was supportive not only of the declaration of war but also of any man who wanted to join up.

This enthusiasm did not last. After the Battle of the Marne, it became obvious that there would be not quick victory and as trench warfare took its hold, the true reality of a modern war became obvious to all. War-weariness set in. The government could not hide the fact that many thousands of men had been killed or severely wounded. The return of wounded soldiers to London rail stations late at night did nothing to detract from the knowledge that casualties were horrendous.

The war led to inflation and many poorer families could not afford the increase in food prices. The impact of the German U-boat campaign also led to food shortages and this hit home when rationing was brought in by the government in February 1918. As nearly everything was directed towards the war effort, fuel was also in short supply and this was also rationed.

The Germans also attacked Britain itself. For the fist time, civilians themselves were targeted with bombing raids by Zeppelins and coastal raids by the German Navy. The first Zeppelin raid on London was at midnight on May 31st 1915, when Hauptmann Linnarz bombed the capital killing seven people and making £18,000 worth of damage. In the months that followed, fifty further Zeppelin raids took place and a blackout was imposed on the city. By October 1915, these raids effectively ended when pilots from the Royal Naval Air Service flew night patrols to protect the city. On December 16th, 1914, the east coast towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool were attacked by the German Navy killing 119 people including children.

The demand for war munitions meant that factories worked all but round the clock to ensure that soldiers were well supplied with ammunition. This invariably led to accidents as safety was sometimes seen as secondary to producing munitions. The worst factory accident was at Silverton in the East End of London. On January 19th, 1917, the munitions factory exploded and 69 people were killed and over 400 injured. Extensive damage was done to the area around the factory. In all, a total of 1,500 civilians were killed during the war.

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The Home Front 1914 to 1918 - History Learning Site

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The Home Front during World War One refers to life in Britain during the war itself. The Home Front saw a massive change in the role of women, rationing, the bombing of parts of Britain by the Germans (the first time civilians were targeted in war), conscientious objectors and strikes by discontented workers.

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Homefront

The fervor of the domestic front, mobilized by a massive propaganda effort headed by the Committee on Public Information, had three major battlegrounds: food, funding, and service.

"The women should stand behind the men who are shouldering the guns. There are thousands of Seattle women who have become "Hooverized," so to speak, and they feel much better for it... It is urgently demanded that waste be eliminated. This is an easy manner if one will only try. We follow the recommendations set down by Mr. Hoover and the food administration and find that we are able to do away with waste virtually altogether."

The U.S. Food Administration headed by Herbert Hoover encouraged households with its slogan, "Food will win the war." Though formal rationing was not instituted during World War I, housewives were encouraged to "self-sacrifice" voluntarily by cutting waste and adopting meatless Mondays, wheatless Wednesdays, and even porkless Thursdays and Sundays. Children too were told to "clean their plates" whilst thinking "of the starving orphans" of Europe. Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps helped to fund the war. Bonds were hawked by celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin and Al Jolson, by scout troops and by librarians. For example, 4.5 million Liberty Loan reminder cards were placed books at public libraries by more than 60,000 women volunteers throughout the country. Communities competed to raise funds for the war effort. By war's end, the four Liberty Bond drives raised more than $17 billion from over 20 million individuals.

An army of volunteers fought the war on the domestic front. National organizations such as the Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), and Salvation Army plus local groups such as the Women's Century Club held fund raisers, planted war gardens, and canned preserves. Care packages filled with soap, cigarettes, safety pins, and socks were sent to soldiers on the field. The Women's Century Club, which knitted 260 pairs of socks in 1918, was headed by Bertha Landes, who became mayor of Seattle in 1926.

Florence Dodge was a Franklin High School freshman in 1918. Her diary reveals the everyday life of a student:
April 2: Tests will soon be here and oh how I dread them!
April 7: I got A+ in my Algebra just think. A- in History and B in Latin. B+ in English. These are the exam results, pretty good aren't they?
September 9: I like school ever so much. I have Miss Perry for roll now.
September 20: We girls all worked at the Red Cross tonight and then partook of some ice-cream.
October 5: No School! Spanish Influenza. Government has caused churches, shows, dances, schools and such things closed.

America's schoolchildren also served on the home front during World War I. The Committee on Public Information (CPI) worked with schools and organizations, providing lesson plans and activities for teachers through their biweekly newsletter, National School Service. "Public schools are the most important agency" to "stimulate the patriotism of the child" as well as to advance "the cause of democracy." Four major themes were stressed: food production and conservation, thrift through War Saving stamps and Liberty bonds, patriotism, and service through organizations such as the Junior Red Cross. Teachers were encouraged to incorporate "true incidents of the war illustrating patriotism, heroism, and sacrifice" into story times for the younger children. Older students could have discussions around questions such as "Why save sugar?" and "What kind of world is safe for democracy?" Children were also viewed as a conduit to adults: "Every school pupil is a messenger from Uncle Sam," encouraging parents to purchase Liberty Bonds and to participate in war efforts. Secretary of the Treasury William McAdoo appealed directly to children:

"Every little girl and every little boy and every big girl and every big boy in the United States can help their Government in this great war, and help our noble sons and brothers who are fighting this war for us, by saving their money and lending every cent of it to the Government."

"No one has got quite so much fun out of the war as Billy and his inseparable companions, Fritters, George and Bean-Pole Ross. Clad in the khaki uniform of the Boy Scouts, with United War Campaign, Red Cross, War Saving, first, second, third, and fourth Liberty Loan buttons, small American flags and service pins spread across their chests, they have lived the war from morning to night."

How could children contribute? "They could sell and buy war bonds and stamps, plant gardens, help on the farm, save peach pits, knit sweaters, build cabinets, post bills... They could send old newspapers to troops... They could make Christmas gifts... They could mail music to the front... They could raise pigeons..." More than 11 million children joined the Junior Red Cross, others worked via the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA and YWCA, and the United States School Garden Army.

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The fervor of the domestic front, mobilized by a massive propaganda effort headed by the Committee on Public Information, had three major battlegrounds: food, funding, and service. "The women should stand behind the men who are shouldering the guns. There are thousands of Seattle women who have become "Hooverized," so to speak, and they feel much better for it...