World War One: the home front

How life changed for people in Britain who were not fighting on the front lines

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
What does the term 'home front' mean? A) Life in Britain during the war, away from the fighting B) The front gardens of British homes C) A type of military uniform D) A type of weapon
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2
Many women took on new jobs during WW1. Which job did many do in factories? A) Making weapons and ammunition (munitions) B) Driving racing cars C) Designing airplanes D) Running international banks
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3
True or false? During WW1, the British government introduced food rationing because of shortages. A) True B) False
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4
What is meant by the 'Home Front' in WW1? A) Life and work back home, away from the fighting B) A football pitch C) A trench in France D) A type of ship
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5
Fill in the blank. Bright posters and adverts used to persuade people to support the war are called ___ posters.
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6
Apart from munitions, what was another job many women did during WW1? A) Nursing soldiers B) Working as army generals C) Flying fighter planes D) Voting in Parliament
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7
Which group of people came to Britain during WW1 after their countries were invaded? A) Belgian refugees B) American tourists C) Chinese sailors D) South African farmers
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8
Why was it sometimes dangerous to live in some British cities during WW1? A) German airships and aircraft bombed some cities B) Wild animals roamed the streets C) Earthquakes shook London weekly D) There was no electricity at all
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9
What was DORA (the Defence of the Realm Act) in WW1? A) A law that gave the government extra powers during the war B) The name of a famous British general C) A type of warship D) A queen of Britain
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10
Why is the home front an important part of the WW1 story? A) It shows how the whole country, not just soldiers, took part in the war B) It shows that the war did not affect ordinary people at all C) It explains the rules of cricket D) It is not really important
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Answer key

World War One: the home front · for parents and teachers

1
Life in Britain during the war, away from the fighting
The home front means life in Britain during the war, including how civilians worked, ate and coped while soldiers were away fighting.
2
Making weapons and ammunition (munitions)
Many women worked in factories making weapons and ammunition (munitions). This work was important to the war effort but could be dangerous.
3
True
Food rationing was introduced in 1918 because German U-boats attacked supply ships. People used ration books to buy limited amounts of certain foods.
4
Life and work back home, away from the fighting
The Home Front meant everything happening back in Britain to support the war effort.
5
propaganda
Propaganda posters encouraged men to join the army, women to work in factories, and everyone to save food. Famous examples include 'Your Country Needs You'.
6
Nursing soldiers
Many women trained as nurses or worked with groups like the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) to help care for wounded soldiers.
7
Belgian refugees
Around 250,000 Belgian refugees came to Britain after Germany invaded their country in 1914. They were one of the largest refugee groups in British history.
8
German airships and aircraft bombed some cities
German Zeppelin airships and later aircraft bombed British cities, including London. These early air raids killed hundreds of civilians.
9
A law that gave the government extra powers during the war
DORA, passed in 1914, gave the government wide powers to control daily life, from censoring news to changing pub opening hours.
10
It shows how the whole country, not just soldiers, took part in the war
The home front shows that WW1 was a 'total war'. Civilians, including women and children, played a vital role in keeping the country going.