Why didn't British aristocrats use their wealth to escape the draft during World War I?
Whilst the British aristocracy were no doubt far better off than other British citizens, their fortunes were intrinsically linked with those of their countrymen and women. They lived in the same towns, enjoyed the same democratic freedoms and were subjects of the same monarch. When the outbreak of World War 1 threatened their very way of life, the aristocracy joined their countrymen in a nationalistic fervour, determined to fight to protect the British way of life. However, the aristocracy paid a dear price for their well-intended patriotism.Before the outbreak of World War 1, the British aristocracy owned a disproportionate amount of property and land. Far from being resented, many aristos demonstrated a patriarchal duty of care to their tenants, watching over them protectively in good times and bad (there were a few notable exceptions).The outbreak of World War 1 saw aristocrats join other British citizens in packing up their offspring like sacrificial lambs and sending them off to fight in Europe. The children of aristocrats were more likely to make the officer classes - it hadn’t been possible to purchase an Army commission since the 1874 Cardwell Reforms, but it would still have been considered unusual for a gentleman of privilege and title to end up serving in the non-commissioned ranks. This fast tracking of aristocratic progeny through the Army ranks had a drawback - the survival rate of young lieutenants on the front was incredibly short.A great many young officers died, heroically leading their men in desperate charges trying to gain advantage over the enemy. Not only were the aristos expected to send their offspring off to fight the war, but in the event of their tragic death on some far flung battlefield, the death duties associated with their inheritance became due immediately. War is a costly business. A significant proportion of World War 1 was funded by an increase in untimely collection of death duties.Some argue that the disproportionate taxes paid by the British aristocracy in sending their heirs off to fight in the war, and then having to pay up in the event of their unfortunate death in combat, was the start of the end of the patriarchal role played by the aristocracy. Unable to pay for the upkeep of their large estates, some were sold off. At the end of the Second World War, property and land owned by the aristocracy was at an all time low.
Should there be a national holiday enacted that allows you to bring your children to your job?
That would be a problem for some jobs.It’s not like all the doctors and nurses can take their children to work and focus on their kids not the patients. Nor do the kids really want to see some of the things they may have to do. And many patients wouldn’t want kids around watching their private medical procedures. If a teacher wanted to bring her child to work / all the other children would be absent from class visiting their parents. And what about people who work in adult entertainment ? How to explain to their kids that sorry they can’t come along to work. Then there’s people whose work is classified. Some jobs can probably accommodate children for a visit , the person can make up the work later, and avoid doing classified or adult things. But jobs like nurses- they can’t all take a quiet day to show their kids round , it’s a hazard having kids around and a violation of patient privacy etc. I suppose If you are a lawyer or something you can bring your child to the office and just not do any sensitive work. But a police officer or paramedic ? It’s not safe to bring a child when they are in duty. And if every one who had kids took a day off do their child can come in , there’s not enough people there for emergencies. Plus jobs like mine as a child carer - If I took my children to my child care job I’d have the same problem as the teacher: all my kids would be with their parents at work. And then there’s people who work from home , that’s kind of a bit dull for the kids to “visit” the work place , or people who don’t work at all. What are they supposed to do on this holiday ? are you one of the people who work 9–5 mon- fri and have a job where you can stop work for the day and bring the child and not have any consequences ? Then it might seem like a good idea for you. But there’s plenty of people who work shift work or jobs where the entire work place can’t takeaday off or have kids visit , and there are jobs some people wouldn’t want their kids to see. I’ve done some of those jobs , a carer in a nursing home , a cleaner in a nursing home. I think it’s great to bring kids to chat to the residents and read to them and sing with them / but I Couldn’t watch kids and do my job , the residents wouldn’t want my kids watching them in the shower or toilet , and I’m sure the kids wouldn’t want to watch me mop the floor or clean toilets etc. then there’s people with no job. Do they just stay home that day ?