History of the United Kingdom during the First World War

United Kingdom in the First World War
1914–1918
British First World War propaganda poster
Monarch(s)	George V
Leader(s)	Civil H. H. Asquith David Lloyd George Army William Robertson John French Douglas Haig Royal Navy Jackie Fisher Henry Jackson John Jellicoe Rosslyn Wemyss RNAS & RFC David Henderson Frederick Sykes Hugh Trenchard Godfrey Paine
Chronology Edwardian era Interwar Britain

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The United Kingdom was a leading Allied Power during the First World War of 1914–1918. They fought against the Central Powers, mainly 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 one of the largest all-volunteer armies in history, known as Kitchener's Army, of more than 2,000,000 men.^[1]: 504 The outbreak of war was a socially unifying event.^[2] Enthusiasm was widespread in 1914, and was similar to that across Europe.^[3]

On the eve of war, there was serious domestic unrest amongst the labour and suffrage movements and especially in Ireland. But those conflicts were postponed. Significant sacrifices were called for in the name of defeating the Empire's enemies and many of those who could not fight contributed to philanthropic and humanitarian causes. Fearing food shortages and labour shortfalls, the government passed legislation such as the Defence of the Realm Act 1914, to give it new powers. The war saw a move away from the idea of "business as usual" under Prime Minister H. H. Asquith,^[4] and towards a state of total war (complete state intervention in public affairs) by 1917 under the premiership of David Lloyd George;^[5] the first time this had been seen in Britain. The war also witnessed the first aerial bombardments of cities in Britain.

Newspapers played an important role in maintaining popular support for the war.^[6] Large quantities of propaganda were produced by the government under the guidance of such journalists as Charles Masterman and newspaper owners such as Lord Beaverbrook. By adapting to the changing demographics of the workforce (or the "dilution of labour", as it was termed), war-related industries grew rapidly, and production increased, as concessions were quickly made to trade unions.^[7] In that regard, the war is also credited by some with drawing women into mainstream employment for the first time.^[8] Debates continue about the impact the war had on women's emancipation, given that a large number of women were granted the vote for the first time in 1918. The experience of individual women during the war varied; much depended on locality, age, marital status and occupation.^[9][10]

The civilian death rate rose due to food shortages and Spanish flu, which hit the country in 1918.^[11] Military deaths are estimated to have exceeded 850,000.^[12] The Empire reached its zenith at the conclusion of peace negotiations.^[13] However, the war heightened not only imperial loyalties but also individual national identities in the Dominions (Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) and India. Irish nationalists after 1916 moved from collaboration with London to demands for immediate independence (see Easter Rising), a move given great impetus by the Conscription Crisis of 1918.^[14] In the United Kingdom, the cultural view of the conflict overall and British participation in particular has generally been critical, though some historians disagree with this interpretation. Research conducted for the centenary of the conflict suggested that the modern public tended to view British involvement in the First World War in a positive light with the exception of believing that the performance of generals was inadequate. But that knowledge of the conflict was limited and that some details seemed to be confused with World War II.