Britain Introduces Conscription

Britain introduced compulsory military service for the first time in its history with the Military Service Act, signed January 27, 1916. Initially applying to single men aged 18–41, it was extended to married men in May 1916. Voluntary recruiting had provided 2.4 million men by the end of 1915, but casualties at Gallipoli and the Somme required millions more. Conscientious objectors faced tribunals; around 16,000 were registered, of whom 6,261 accepted non-combatant service.