4 replies to this topic

[richard w]

Good morning,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the general direction of the best source of information about what happened to the returning  soldiers after 1918, after being de-mobbed, Did the crime rate greatly incease, did the murder rate increase, an old guy once told me of a soldier who returned on leave in 1917 who actually walked through the door and caught his wifle in bed with another chap, it was alledged the returning soldier killed the chap there and then and just left the house to return to the front, I dont know how true this was , meant to be in the Huddersfield area.
I also read of a father who had encouraged his 4 sons to join up , they were all killed and in the 1920's went into a wood and killed himself due to the guilt he felt over his sons.

I know there was the depression and alot of medal sets seem to have the War medal(the silver one)missing due to them being sold just to feed the family, if there is any recomended reading etc ciovering this area I would be very greatful.

I do believe that the last soldier who was stuck in a mental institution due to the effects of shell shock did not die until the 1980's, which really makes you stop and think.

[Perth Digger]

Robert Graves, in Goodbye to All That, wrote that some who were demobbed early managed to get jobs on the basis of their war experience, but those demobbed later found that no-one was interested in their war effort and that they had much greater difficulty getting jobs.  I think he's referring mainly to officers.  

There is always economic dislocation after wars and the Great War was especially bad, given the extent to which the manufacturing base had been turned over to war production.

[ianjonescl]

The Great Silence 1918 - 1920 - Living in the Shadow of the Graet War.   Juliet nicolson


I found this a very interesting read and dealt with many aspects of those returning from war.

[richard w]

Many thanks for the 2 book  recomendation, got them both this afternoon from e bay

[MichaelBully]

It might be consulting the first chapters of 'The Long Weekend- 'The Living Story of the Twenties and Thirties' by Robert Graves & Alan Hodges, has some interesting material about unemployment amongst former servicemen, especially former officers.
'We Will Remember Them-Voices from the Aftermath of the Great War' by Max Arthur , has some fascinating recollections from those who returned.

On a more general note there were disturbances in Liverpool and Glasgow in 1919, but whether these were due to increased militancy amongst the workers who did not fight , or involved de-mobbed service people, I am not sure.

Personally I find 1919 one of the many fascinating topics resulting from the political consequences of the Great War.  
Regards,
Michael Bully

richard w, on 06 May 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

Many thanks for the 2 book  recomendation, got them both this afternoon from e bay