How the Welfare State developed during World War I

This talk explores the impact of the First World War on Britain’s burgeoning welfare state. While battles raged far from British shores, those at home still needed to be cared for: women, children, older people and, of course, returning servicemen. As the war increasingly impacted on ‘everyday life’, and as men were increasingly compelled to take up armed service or war work, expectations of what the state could and should provide by way of ‘welfare’ support shifted and changed. This talk will draw upon my research into the home front in the West Midlands to explore how these changes, large and small, played out in cities, towns and villages across the region, and how individuals navigated these changes.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. New visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.