Date of Award
12-22-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
First Advisor
Pradeep Barua
Committee Members
James Rohrer; Mary Beth Ailes
Keywords
First World War;Rifle Volunteers
Abstract
The British Rifle Volunteer movement came about as a response to the perceived threat of invasion by France in 1859. One of the primary responsibilities of the Volunteers was to function as an auxiliary force for the defense of Britain. However, no invasion would come, and the Volunteers would see no combat outside a small deployment during the Second Boer War. The Volunteer Force eventually became a new organization named the Territorial Force in 1908 during the sweeping series of British Army reforms after 1900. Despite the limited military experience, the Volunteer movement would considerably influence the British military and society leading up to and during the First World War. The same mission and recruitment pattern remained as the Volunteer movement continued in the Territorial Force. The Territorial Force also was a vital component of the British Army during the war. Along with direct involvement in the war, the Volunteer movement helped foster the ideals of muscular Christianity and church militarism. Volunteer officers took their experience and the trappings of military service and applied them to religious youth organizations that aided in Army recruitment. These groups were the Boys Brigade and Church Lads and sought to draw boys’ attention and interest to the Christian faith. The Volunteer movement also played a vital role in the developing military doctrine and equipment as it fostered an environment for figures like J.F.C Fuller, the father of modern armor warfare, to maintain a career in the British Army. Other Volunteer officers like John Macdonald sought to reform British infantry training and would help form the training and tactics the British Army used during the First World War.
Recommended Citation
Lierman, Kyle, "The Show Soldiers: The Rifle Volunteers and the First World War" (2023). History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity. 37.
https://openspaces.unk.edu/hist-etd/37