Why did boy soldiers join the war?
Several factors affected boy soldiers' decision to go to war. These included: pressure/propaganda, patriotism, and escape from a mundane life.
1. Pressure/propaganda
A great number of teenagers went to war ceding to pressure from peers and propaganda. They were scared of being accused of cowardice.
One boy soldier called Tommy Gay said: “I had to go in the army because Kitchener put a poster on the wall which said: “We want you. We want you.””
A great number of teenagers went to war ceding to pressure from peers and propaganda. They were scared of being accused of cowardice.
One boy soldier called Tommy Gay said: “I had to go in the army because Kitchener put a poster on the wall which said: “We want you. We want you.””
2. Patriotism
British children were brought up on stories of war heroes and great battles, and many of them were part of boy scouts. To them, war seemed like a big adventure. However, this massive enlistment was possible because this was a generation unfamiliar with the dreadful effects of war.
British children were brought up on stories of war heroes and great battles, and many of them were part of boy scouts. To them, war seemed like a big adventure. However, this massive enlistment was possible because this was a generation unfamiliar with the dreadful effects of war.
3. Escape from a mundane life
Most British teenagers left school at age 14 and directly started working. Work was extremely tedious and boys wanted to have fun, to the extent of calling war a "holiday". Therefore, they regarded war as a fun adventure that would provide them an escape from their mundane and repetitive lives.
Most British teenagers left school at age 14 and directly started working. Work was extremely tedious and boys wanted to have fun, to the extent of calling war a "holiday". Therefore, they regarded war as a fun adventure that would provide them an escape from their mundane and repetitive lives.