Millions of men volunteered to leave home, hearth and family to go to a foreign land to fight in 1914, the start of the biggest war in British history. It was a war fought by soldier-citizens, millions strong, most of whom had volunteered willingly to go. They made up the army that first held, and then, in 1918, thrust back the German Army to win t

David Silbey is an assistant professor of European History at Alvernia College, Reading, PA. He obtained his PhD at Duke University in 1999.

1. Introduction 2. The Rush to Colors, Business as Usual, and the Coming of Conscription, August, 1914-January, 1916 3. Currents within the Flood: Who were the Volunteers? 4. 'The Monotony of the Trivial Round': Enlistment and the Escape from Domesticity 5. 'Money was the Attraction.' Enlistment and Economic Motives 6. 'We Were Being Patriotic. Or Young and Silly.' Enlistment and Allegiance 7. 'A View of the Round World.' The Workers, Britain, Europe, and Empire 8. Conclusion: The Shadow of the Somme 9. Bibliography