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The Great War
In 1915 Winston Churchill resigned over the Gallipoli disaster. The plan was to land at Gallipoli force a passage through the Dardanelles and overpower Turkey, thus removing her from the war. The plan failed. Thousands of the Allied troops died.
The image of a nation pulling together in wartime, was sometimes an illusion. Munitions workers went on strike for more pay. There was a terrible problem with alcohol in the munitions factories. Lloyd George announced higher taxes on alcohol and said that Britain's biggest enemies were "Germany, Austria and Drink". The King declared himself and his household tee-total.
In April 1916 there was a five day revolution in Dublin. This became known as the Easter Rising. The rebels took over the Post Office and the Navy was called in. The ringleaders were executed and became martyrs.
In December 1916 Asquith was forced out and Lloyd George became Prime Minister.
1917 was the year of the Russian Revolution; the year that the first American troops arrived in France and the moment when Balfour made his famous Declaration that Palestine could be a Jewish homeland.
In 1918 the Labour Party constitution appeared. Clause 4 of the document, was a pledge for common ownership of industry and services . Also in 1918 Fisher introduced his Education Bill. Women were granted the vote, though only mature (over 30), married and educated women and, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, November 1918, the Great War ended.
Admiral Beatty |
ADMIRAL DAVID BEATTY (1871-1936), First Earl Beatty- Born in Cheshire
- Made the First Lord of the Admiralty 1913, Commander of the Grand Fleet 1916 and First Sea Lord in 1919
- Famous for commanding the battle-cruiser Squadron during the First World War and for winning the Battle of Jutland in 1916
Lilian Baylis set up the Old Vic Shakespeare Company during the First World War.
The Balfour Declaration (November 9th 1917) Sent to the leading Zionist, Baron Guy De Rothschild
"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed in any other country."
 
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| 1911 | National Insurance Acts are passed
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| 1912 | Scott reaches the South Pole
Balkan Wars break out
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| 1913 | Trade Union Act and Cat and Mouse Act are passed
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| 1914 | Irish Home Rule Act is passed
World War I breaks out
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| 1915 | Coalition government
Churchill resigns
Lusitania sunk by German U-boat
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| 1916 | Lloyd George Prime Minister
Easter Rising in Ireland
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| 1917 | America joins the war
Russian Revolution
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| 1918 | RAF is formed
World War I ends
Coupon Election
Rationing is introduced
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| 1919 | Lady Astor becomes the first lady MP
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| 1920 | The Government of Ireland Act is passed
The League of Nations is founded
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| 1921 | The Irish Free State is created
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| War Casualties | | • | 1,800,000 Germany |
| • | 1,700,000 Russians |
| • | 1,400,000 French |
| • | 1,300,000 Austria-Hungarians |
| • | 947,000 British and British Empire |
| • | 615,000 Italians |
| • | 335,000 Romanians |
| • | 325,000 Turks |
| • | 90,000 Bulgarians |
| • | 55,000 Serbs |
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