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Posted by ElizaShaw (U10750867) on Sunday, 13th January 2008
I'm being really lazy, so if you tell me to go and look it up for myself, I'll understand!
I'd like to know what percentage, roughly, of soldiers died in WWI? Especially British soldiers. Would it be accurate to say that with the exception of those not fit for service, just about all adult males in the UK were called up? What was the maximum call up age?
What I'm really after is this - to get a steer on what percentage of (fighting age) men were 'left' in this country, by the end of the war (and/or possibly by the end of the pandemic).
I have a nagging figure of 2% for the number of 'dead British males' in the male population, but no idea if this is true or not.
Many thanks for any clues.
Eliza,
These sites might be of help
Trike.
Very many thanks! Just what I was after. Eliza
, in reply to message 3.
Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Wednesday, 16th January 2008
a figure i always remember is that the average lifespan of a 17 year old british subaltern from the time he reached the front was 2 weeks!!!
no carer progression there then
st
No indeed - and the attrition rate of junior officers was so high that the army were forced to promote from the ranks! In a way, it was a real opportunity for social advancement - if you lived long enough to survive the war, that is.
Do you remember the novel by R L Delderfield (is that it?) called 'To Serve Them All My Days' serialised on the TV way back when - the main character was a working class man who'd been commissioned during the war, and was therefore now a 'gentleman' and so suitable to teach at a public school.
By the way, a propos a family member of mine, where would you get your officer training if you were going into the RE? Would it be Sandhurst, or was there a specific RE training place? (Yes, being lazy again - sorry!)
Eliza,
Once again I have to recommend "Mud,Blood and poppycock".
A book that is not to every ones liking but will give you a good over view of WW1.
It tells of the average time spent in the front line,Cause of death ,lost generation,lions led by donkeys,"shot at dawn" cases,Generals hiding miles behind the front line,etc etc.
It breaks down(in answer to your question) the dead of the country's on both sides at the time, of the top of my head the Serbians lost more than any other country as a % of the population.
Lee
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper (U519668) on Thursday, 17th January 2008
Eliza -
Always thought Sappers and Artillery went to Greenwich School of Mining for their initial training prior to Sandhurst for passing out parade - they were both "ubique" !
Are they both Ubique? I thought it was just the Sappers!
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