How did the British class system play out in term of enlistment during the First World War? And was there a social or cultural change after the war amongst ‘comrades in arms’ that transcended class boundaries.

by MancombQSeepgood

Would working class and middle class men intermixed along the front? Did the upper class serve and if so were they the officer class, or would this have been below their social standing?

gytherin

Gordon Corrigan's "Mud, Blood and Poppycock" goes into the statistics of class at the front. It's an interesting read all round - unfortunately my copy's not to hand or I could give you the relevant chapters.

Here's an interesting fact: The Chief of the Imperial General Staff - the head of the entire British Army - from 1916 until early 1918 was Sir William Robertson. He rose through the ranks from private soldier to field marshal. His first job was as a pupil-teacher at his local school; then he went on to be a gardener's boy, then joined up three months before he was eligible.