At the end of July, almost a month after the Sarajevo incident, with the support of Hans, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia. Since Serbia did not accept all the conditions, Austria-Hungary finally declared war on Serbia, and the war began. After the outbreak of the Austro-Serbian War, Russia and France, with the support of Britain, immediately launched war mobilization. Germany asked the two countries to immediately stop this action, but they were flatly refused. Just a few days later, Germany declared war on Tsarist Russia and declared war on the Gallic Rooster. Britain began mobilizing for war.
...
November.
"Father, have you reported to the military?" Gao Bin asked.
"Yes, Matthew and William, they will all join the army and fight for this country."
Robert is putting on his military uniform with Carson's help, and all the valets at home are gone.
The country entered a state of war, and Robert, the earl, was also appointed as the Sheriff, in charge of the security of a county and the recruitment of soldiers.
Gao Bin was also assigned the position of logistics director, responsible for the procurement and deployment of materials in York County, and he was still a major.
"The hospital has made preparations and can receive the injured at any time."
"Very good, I will report this situation to the higher-ups. However, the war has just begun and the soldiers have not yet gone to the battlefield. No wounded will be sent over in a short period of time."
This is true, it will be half a year before the seriously wounded come back from the front.
In the early days of the war, precious transportation capacity would not be used to transport the wounded.
"I heard that many nobles in the county have gone to war? Are they criticizing me?"
"Don't worry about the rumors outside. The noble children who can go to the battlefield are basically the descendants of declining families. They can only win glory for the family in this way." Robert comforted.
"Don't worry, I don't think there's anything wrong with this. It's also important to do a good job in logistics support."
"You're right to think so, poor Matthew, I didn't want him to go."
"Everyone has his own way to go, and going to the battlefield is his way."
"Okay, let's not talk about this. How about the factory?"
"The production line operates at full capacity 24 hours a day, and the workers work in three shifts. Women are not allowed to go to the battlefield, but they are very willing to exert their energy in the factory."
"This is good. As long as there is no shortage of manpower, our supply can keep up."
"Yes, I just sent away all the inventory, and the money from the military has also arrived. This time I am very happy."
"Happiness is for sure, otherwise the frontline soldiers will be harmed because of the lack of material support, and they will not be able to absolve themselves of the blame!"
Robert checked in the mirror and nodded to confirm:
"Okay, thank you, Carson."
"I should do it, sir, but the manpower in the manor is obviously not enough."
"Yes, but there is no way. In wartime conditions, we can't be picky."
"What I mean is, can you invite Mosley to be your personal servant? Although I am willing to serve you personally, my master."
"Moxley?"
"The housekeeper who served Matthew before was a good and experienced man." Gao Bin said helpfully.
"Ah~ yes, I know, then invite him over."
"Okay, sir, I'll go out first. The speech will start in 10 minutes."
"I know."
...
The mobilization speech was very successful. Robert infected the residents of the town with his impassioned and impassioned emotion.
Being able to recruit more soldiers is also Robert's contribution.
However, as the war continues and there is a shortage of major generals, Robert may not be spared in the end.
As for Gao Bin, as long as he continues to climb up the logistics department, he does not need to go to the front line and can sit in the rear area.
The aristocrat's peeing habit means banquets are indispensable at all times, even if there is a shortage of supplies during wartime, this is not a problem at all for the wealthy Downton Abbey.
They produce their own food, so there will naturally be no shortage of raw materials.
Moreover, Gao Bin started hoarding supplies as early as half a year ago. It is no exaggeration to say that it is enough to feed all the masters and servants in Downton Abbey for two years.
After Mrs. Patmore's eye disease was cured, she returned to the manor and continued to take over the kitchen work. Gao Bin did not have to worry about the quality of the food.
"Man, have you seen Edith? She disappeared early in the morning." Gao Bin stopped Tom Branson.
Ever since Matthew went to the military camp, Edith has been depressed. Robert asked Gao Bin to take more care of her, but this girl is a restless person, and she can't find anyone if she doesn't keep an eye on her for a while.
The two of them are already married. Just a year ago, the new love Yan'er had to separate just after they got married. No normal person could bear it.
"Master, yes, I just sent Miss Edith to church. She was praying."
"Oh, then I won't bother her. By the way, has the recruitment department sent you a letter?"
"No, I am Irish, Master."
Gao Bin suddenly realized:
"Sorry, I forgot about this. Go and do your work."
Gao Bin turned back to the castle and met Cora on the stairs.
"Mother."
"My child, you have to help me persuade Sybil."
"What's wrong?"
"She is going to the hospital to be a volunteer."
"Isn't this a good thing?"
"What? No, how can this be a good thing? She is a young lady, how can she come into contact with strange men every day, and she is also a wounded person."
"But she is also an adult, mother, let her make her own decision."
"No, I am her mother and I must take care of her."
Gao Bin was helpless and relieved. At least Cora's concern for the child made him feel the greatness of his mother:
"But sooner or later she will fly out of your arms and live her own life. Besides, the hospital is our own, so we don't have to worry about anything happening to her."
Cora thought for a moment and reluctantly nodded:
"Then you promise me to try to avoid letting her come into contact with too many wounded people."
"I'll go back and say hello to Dr. Clarkson and arrange for Sybil to go to the rehabilitation department."
"That would be the best."
The conscription is still going on. Gao Bin didn't know this period of history before, he only knew a rough idea. But now that he is in it, he feels that it is God's blessing that Britain can become a victorious country.
As for the British Empire on which the sun never set, whether it was duty-bound to assume the role of Interpol or driven by interests, no matter where the world went to war, Britain would inevitably be involved in the war, but the flames of war would not burn at home.
Regarding the war in Europe, Britain can send troops, money, and go to the European battlefield. It is nothing more than fighting for victory or defeat for the sake of interests. The victorious country can be justified and have a say in re-establishing a new international order and pattern.
Therefore, World War I did not endanger the British territory. Although the British suffered heavy casualties due to the use of some new weapons of destruction, such as poison gas and tanks, the homeland was not threatened, so the superstructure can remain intact.
Moreover, when war against Germany was just declared, Kitchener, a British field marshal who had just been transferred back from the overseas colony of Egypt and a well-known and powerful figure in the military circles, was appointed to serve as the British Minister of War.
At this time, the United Kingdom was the only country among the European powers that did not recruit compulsory soldiers but adopted a volunteer army. You must know that the United Kingdom did not establish a standing army that could rival the European powers.
Before the war began, the Empire, which was at its peak at the time, was confident in the quantity and quality of its army. It believed that simply recalling most of the British troops stationed in overseas colonies would be enough to cope with the war on the French front.
Many people even dreamed of ending the war before Christmas that year.
Unexpectedly, while he was dreaming, Marshal Kitchener, who was very insightful, poured a large basin of cold water on his head.
Kitchener made a quick and decisive judgment on the prospects of the war. He believed that this unprecedented war would last at least three years.
Therefore, as soon as he took office, he loudly called for the army to quickly increase the number of 100,000 soldiers. For a time, the British government and the public were in an uproar. His bold prediction aroused shock and confusion in the Parliament.
But those chatty congressmen will never shake the judgment of a veteran professional soldier.
He knew very well that with the UK's only 250,000 standing troops at this time, it would be absolutely useless to face a war that was expanding in scale and had uncertain prospects.
Therefore, it is necessary to quickly integrate the infantry regiment system and recruitment training institutions in all counties across the country by thunderous means, and directly select and recruit a large number of soldiers from civilians, thereby forming a new reserve army to cope with war.
Under the strong support of Commander-in-Chief, the British Parliament quickly voted to approve the army expansion plan proposal submitted by Kitchener, and decided to recruit 500,000 people to form 18 new infantry divisions.
Due to the massive publicity by the British media, their rivals, the Germans, quickly learned of the British's huge military expansion plan. The German media used spicy words to describe these new recruits as cannon fodder.
As Marshal Kitchener expected, after the war broke out in August, when the German army quickly swept through Belgium and northern France, the small British Expeditionary Force was in a precarious situation.
In the first Battle of Ypres in France, the British army suffered heavy losses. Not only did they need to supplement their losses, but they also needed more troops to invest in the French battlefield.
In order to replenish the troops lost on the front line and form new troops, a massive recruitment campaign was launched quickly in the UK.
In order to recruit as many recruits as possible, a widespread and highly inflammatory propaganda campaign was launched in the UK.
Various posters, including Army Commander Kitchener's recruitment poster, were plastered all over the streets and alleys, saturating people's eyes and ears.
Gao Bin was in such an environment every day. If he hadn't been mentally strong, he might have been swayed by this crazy brainwashing and rushed to the battlefield.
Throughout Downton Abbey, large posters are placed around or outside each hall.
Ji Shuai stares at everyone on the poster with a sharp gaze and points his finger at you. When you pass by, your blood will boil with excitement.
Another curious tactic used to persuade potential soldiers to enlist was to pin a white feather on them.
Young men who are not wearing military uniforms and strolling on the streets of London are often stopped by women, who then pin white feathers on their clothes - a symbol of traditional British cowardice.
Being labeled a coward is very unfair to many children who are only fifteen or sixteen years old.
These inflammatory propaganda also directly targeted the women class, denounced the phenomenon of many women hiding their husbands at home and living a leisurely life while other people's husbands were fighting bloody battles on the front line.
This move forced many British women who were already hesitant to encourage their husbands to join the torrent of conscription.
Various public opinion media also aroused public anger by accusing the German army of inhumane atrocities in the occupied areas of Belgium and France, and then portrayed the British and French coalition forces as the holy crusaders to save Europe and prevent the German barbarians from trampling on European civilization.
Soon, the effect of the powerful and fierce publicity campaign became apparent.
Contrary to the German predictions, a series of radical recruitment propaganda measures triggered a strong response from the British people, especially a large number of industrial workers, who enthusiastically signed up.
Recruitment offices everywhere were packed with applicants.
A large number of public buildings have also been requisitioned as temporary recruitment offices across the country.
A large number of administrative and medical staff are there to receive thousands of people who aspire to become members of the Royal Army.
Suddenly, everyone's sons, brothers and husbands were soldiers.
Suddenly, swarms of people were rushing to sign up to fight, swarms of people were singing in the streets and on trams along the streets, and almost everyone was singing and whistling.
As of October, more than 500,000 young people have actively joined the New Army, a scale that has completely exceeded expectations.
However, this is not enough, because there are already a large number of dead and wounded in the front.
However, a group of the best soldiers went to the battlefield in the early stages, and those who are recruited now are relatively less willing.
Each conscript must pass a series of medical and physical fitness tests before being accepted as a soldier, and the British Royal Army cannot in principle accept every volunteer.
All recruits must meet age limits, nationality standards and pass a physical examination.
The purpose is to reject those who are in poor health and physically unfit for life as a soldier.
Recruitment physical examinations are usually strict. Military doctors will use the best medical equipment at the time to conduct physical examinations. When the recruitment peaks, the height limit is raised from the original 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 6 inches to prevent a large influx of volunteers.
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Subsequently, it was lowered several times due to the decrease in the number of recruits.
If successful in various tests, new candidates must also solemnly promise to perform their duties.
In a solemn ceremony presided over by the recruiting officer, the recruits swore allegiance to the Bible.
But with so many people eager to join, the process often becomes a formality.
Sometimes people are asked to recite the oath simultaneously in groups to speed up the process.
The oath requires each recruit to swear to "faithfully defend Her Majesty the Queen and her Successors, and to bravely fight against all enemies."
At the same time, everyone is required to promise to obey "the authority of all generals and officers established in me."
There are also new recruits who are guaranteed to serve in the Royal Forces for the duration of the war.
In a wave of fervent patriotic enthusiasm, thousands of people volunteered to train in Field Marshal Kitchener's new infantry division.
As part of this, people realized that local ties could be leveraged to maximize national benefits.
If you can work in the military with close friends, relatives and colleagues, then more men will definitely join the military.
In the future, collaboration in team operations will also show strong combat effectiveness.
As a result, a distinctive British recruit training concept, "Tongcheng Camp", emerged.
A Lord first coined the term "city battalions" and recruited enough men to form three battalions from the Liverpool area in just one week.
Tongchengying has become synonymous not only with towns in northern England, but also with people from cities such as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
And people who came from Birmingham, Bristol, and Cambridge also formed their own "city camps".
Yorkshire also has its own York Battalion, and due to Robert's outstanding performance in recruiting troops, he was appointed colonel commander of the 'York Division'.
However, his troops are in reserve and do not need to go to the battlefield for the time being. They are only training in a valley in Yorkshire.
Gao Bin estimated that by the time it was their turn to go to the battlefield, the war would be almost over.
He had watched the training of the York Division. When a civilian suddenly faces the transformation into a soldier, the process will not be easy.
Especially in the first few months, thousands of new recruits are trained. They not only learn how to pull the trigger, but also learn military discipline and how to use rifles and bayonets for tactical drills.
Many people live in tents. Whether they were workers, teachers or clerks before, their lives can no longer be done as they wish. Everything is under the control of the Royal Army.
It is impossible for these new recruits to learn soldier skills overnight and go to the battlefield to fight.
The British Army still has to figure out where to find experienced officers and non-commissioned officers to lead these civilians, and where to find instructors to train these new recruits.
The rapidly expanding new army has to solve not only the shortage of officers and non-commissioned officers, but also issues such as uniforms, weapons and equipment.
Due to the frequent shortage of supplies, some infantry battalions in the same city first let the officers and soldiers live in their own homes after being formed, and then entered the battalion for training until the uniforms, weapons and equipment were ready.
Not only that, the British Army also quickly recalled 500 British officers who were on leave in India that year and incorporated them into new infantry divisions to strengthen leadership of the army.
The army is an army, and individuals are individuals. Naturally, the great Earl of Grantham will not use family assets to supplement military expenditure.
So his troops are just as difficult, and many recruits don't even have military uniforms.
Looking around, those who can wear military uniforms now are all 'gentlemen' from the middle and upper classes.
There is no way, this is a country where everything is divided by class.
Therefore, you can often see a phenomenon. A second lieutenant officer may be only about 20 years old, but he can command more than 30 middle-aged men.
These older people with more experience are definitely not easy to discipline, so the military is also responsible for training young officers and telling them how to manage veteran officers.
Gao Bin laughed when he saw this scene. Such an army can win the war. Apart from God's blessing, there is no other reason.
In short, after several weeks of high-intensity training, the recruits gained experience in the arduous exercise, and gradually became familiar with each other's living habits, and team awareness and fighting spirit were also established.