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The British Army in World War 2 During the First World War, the British Army was transformed from a voluntary, professional force backed up by a voluntary reserve into a 'national' army recruited by conscription. It was able to make this transition without a mater ....

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.... this brought in some two million men by the end of the year. Conscription was introduced by the Military Service Act of January 1916, which rendered liable all single men aged 18-41, extended to married men in May 1916; Exemptions were permitted from reserved occupation to conscientious objection. The creation of the Ministry of National Service in November 1917 transferred recruiting to civil control, and in April 1918 another Military Service Act extended the age limit to 51, and the government was compelled to abandon its undertaking not to send aboard troops under the age of 19. Conscription was never applied to Ireland. Upto February 1916 more th ....