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During World War One more than fifteen million men and women were killed across europe. The ramifications were enormous. In Britain apart from the political and economic upheaval, the make up of its social fabric began to change forever. It was a slow process, but the sharply drawn lines between the position of men and women ,working and upper classes gradually began to re align themselves.
The facts and figures of the death and destruction that occurred during the First World War were clearly documented at the time, but apart from the horrors of the bloody battle ground what were the long term effects of this brutal phase on our history? What happened to the soldiers who did return home and to their wives and families? How did the social fabric of Britain re knit itself after the terror and turmoil of the war years?
Before the First World War, throughout British society and in particular within the large households clear divisions could be seen between those who lived 'upstairs' and those who lived 'downstairs'. There was little intermingling across the divide. However after the tragedies and chaos of the war year things were never quite the same again. The different sectors of society had been thrown together in ways that could never have been foreseen, women were given jobs and working men positions of responsibility. Manpower and resources were stretched to breaking point, new systems evolved over the war years and inevitably had a lasting impact as Britain began the painful process of rebuilding itself after the war?
The facts and figures of the death and destruction that occurred during the First World War were clearly documented at the time, but apart from the horrors of the bloody battle ground what were the long term effects of this brutal phase on our history? What happened to the soldiers who did return home and to their wives and families? How did the social fabric of Britain re knit itself after the terror and turmoil of the war years?
Before the First World War, throughout British society and in particular within the large households clear divisions could be seen between those who lived 'upstairs' and those who lived 'downstairs'. There was little intermingling across the divide. However after the tragedies and chaos of the war year things were never quite the same again. The different sectors of society had been thrown together in ways that could never have been foreseen, women were given jobs and working men positions of responsibility. Manpower and resources were stretched to breaking point, new systems evolved over the war years and inevitably had a lasting impact as Britain began the painful process of rebuilding itself after the war?
“Once blood is shed in a national quarrel reason and right
are swept aside by the rage of angry men.”(Lloyd George)
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