The efforts of the voluntary recruitment systems soon began to fail when soldiers and civilians in Britain began to realise the harsh reality of war. This meant that compulsory enlistment was to be enforced upon the nation. Lord Derby was the Director of Recruitment and in 1915, he introduced the Derby Scheme, which was aimed to increase recruitment numbers. With the new national register in place, all men who were between the ages of 18 and 41 were called upon to enlist with the British army. These enlisted soldiers would be categorised into both single and married groups each of these being further categorised into 23 different age groups. The game plan was now for each group to be called upon when they were needed, however those placed in the single groups were to be called on first. Some men in various reserved jobs such as coal mining and farm work were exempt from recruitment, however soon the Derby Scheme proved to be a lasting failure and was officially closed within December of 1915.
Desperation kicked in for Britain with decreasing recruitment and troop numbers, leading to, in January, the first Military Service Act of 1916, where all single and childless men were called upon except for those who were either medically unfit or were occupied in essential services. This plan did not completely work due to mass confusion across the nation over who was to be called upon, so in May of that year conscription was introduced in the form of the Second Military Act. This forced all men, regardless of any personal aspects other than medical exclusions, were liable for service to their country.
Desperation kicked in for Britain with decreasing recruitment and troop numbers, leading to, in January, the first Military Service Act of 1916, where all single and childless men were called upon except for those who were either medically unfit or were occupied in essential services. This plan did not completely work due to mass confusion across the nation over who was to be called upon, so in May of that year conscription was introduced in the form of the Second Military Act. This forced all men, regardless of any personal aspects other than medical exclusions, were liable for service to their country.