For King and Country: The Role of Patriotism in Mobilisation in the First World War

During the First World War, patriotism played a significant role on the British Home Front. Enlistment is a known outcome of patriotism, but patriotism also led to self-mobilisation into other efforts at home.

However, civilians on the British Home Front held differing views about patriotism. The gentry and figures ineligible for military service believed it was the patriotic duty of eligible men to fight for King and Country. By contrast, many farmers argued that enlisting was not the only way to demonstrate their patriotism. Instead, they thought it was their patriotic duty to stay at home to produce food for the troops and the nation.

Through their involvement with war-related charities and philanthropy, the patriotism of many civilians was more humanitarian than militaristic. ln this talk, Dr Richard Batten will show how patriotism was a key concept in mobilisation efforts on the British Home Front and how civilians sought to demonstrate their patriotism. He will also reveal how patriotically minded civilians outside the requirements of military service attempted to arbitrate upon patriotism, deciding what was patriotic or unpatriotic behaviour in wartime.

About the speaker

Dr Richard Batten is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter. He has spoken on BBC Radio Devon and the Western Front Association's podcast about his research into Devon during the Great War. 'For King and Country: The Role of Patriotism in Mobilisation in the First World War' is his second book.