<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was one of the Allied Powers during the First World War of 1914--1918, fighting against the Central Powers (the German Empire, the Austro - Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria). The state's armed forces were reorganised--the war marked the founding of the Royal Air Force, for example--and increased in size because of the introduction, in January 1916, of conscription for the first time in the country's history as well as the raising of what was, at the time, the largest all - volunteer army in history, known as Kitchener's Army, of more than 2,000,000 men . The outbreak of war has generally been regarded as a socially unifying event, although this view has been challenged by more recent scholarship . In any case, responses in Great Britain in 1914 were similar to those amongst populations across Europe . </P> <P> On the eve of war, there was serious domestic unrest in the UK (amongst the labour and suffrage movements and especially in Ireland) but much of the population rapidly rallied behind the government . Significant sacrifices were made in the name of defeating the Empire's enemies and many of those who could not fight contributed to philanthropic and humanitarian causes . Fearing food shortages and labour shortfalls, the government passed legislation such as the Defence of the Realm Act 1914, to give it new powers . The war saw a move away from the idea of "business as usual" under Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, and towards a state of total war (complete state intervention in public affairs) under the premiership of David Lloyd George; the first time this had been seen in Britain . The war also witnessed the first aerial bombardments of cities in Britain . </P> <P> Newspapers played an important role in maintaining popular support for the war . Large quantities of propaganda were produced by the government under the guidance of such journalists as Charles Masterman and newspaper owners such as Lord Beaverbrook . By adapting to the changing demographics of the workforce (or the "dilution of labour", as it was termed), war - related industries grew rapidly, and production increased, as concessions were quickly made to trade unions . In that regard, the war is also credited by some with drawing women into mainstream employment for the first time . Debates continue about the impact the war had on women's emancipation, given that a large number of women were granted the vote for the first time in 1918 . The experience of individual women during the war varied; much depended on locality, age, marital status and occupation . </P>

Who was england's prime minister during ww1