Recruitment

Recruitment affected more than the soldier. Removing men from farms, workshops and households reduced the labour available to produce food and goods. Families could lose an important worker or provider, while prolonged service kept men away for much longer than a short period of militia duty.

Recruitment brought many people into the armies, and both sides also used compulsory enlistment. People themselves became part of the military forces rather than only supplying them. Death or serious injury could permanently change the lives of soldiers and their families.

When voluntary recruitment could no longer supply enough soldiers, it introduced compulsory service. Meanwhile, emergency powers allowed it to control resources and information. Persuasion and compulsion therefore operated alongside each other.