The British government takes a drastic measure to boost its military might, passing the Military Service Act, which makes all single men between 18 and 41 eligible for military service. This radical step, a first in British history, is a response to the crippling manpower shortages and devastating losses on the Western Front. The act, championed by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and his government, aims to swell the ranks of the British Expeditionary Force and inject new life into the stalled war effort. As conscription becomes a reality, the face of warfare is forever changed, and the British people are forced to confront the harsh realities of total war.