Working class family breakdown and the First World War in Scotland

Elliot, R. , Hughes, A. and Meek, J. (2015) Working class family breakdown and the First World War in Scotland. Scottish Labour History, 50, pp. 141-159.

Abstract

The historiography of the First World War has expanded significantly in recent years to explore themes beyond the conflict and the economic consequences of war. However the history of the effect of the war on family life remains underdeveloped. This article contributes to our understanding of the impact of the war on Scottish families. Numerous families experienced the death of a loved one, while, for many others, the return of husbands and fathers could have mixed consequences. Many men who returned from war resumed family life relatively unproblematically but for significant numbers of families the war rendered this impossible. In the post-war years, as this article highlights, a significant number of ex-servicemen were unable or unwilling to resume family life; other men refused to do so because their wives had been unfaithful during the war, whilst there was deep concern that the level of family violence had increased. All of this had repercussions for the men, women and children involved.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hughes, Dr Annmarie and Elliot, Dr Rosemary and Meek, Dr Jeff
• Authors: Elliot, R., Hughes, A., and Meek, J.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
• Journal Name: Scottish Labour History
• Publisher: Scottish Labour History Society
• ISSN: 1472-6041