Abstract :
Historians of Britain and the First World War have debated the extent to which there was
a rush to colours in August 1914, as well as the consequences of bringing the war effort to the communities
and homes of the civilian population. While the historiography has gradually shifted away from accepting
that the wave of volunteerism in 1914 was ultimately an expression of patriotism and support for the war
effort, there is still little understanding of the impact of the recruitment and propaganda campaigns at the
local level. Focusing on newspaper reports and recruitment records, this article offers an examination of how
Devonians responded to recruiting agents and their attempts to get men to enlist, and the effect on communities,
families, and individuals who were targeted by both civilian and military authorities. This study
reveals that Devon’s recruitment profile differed from national trends due to occupational and geographical
factors, as well as the refusal of small county newspapers to practise self-censorship.
