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Lloyd George becomes Prime Minister -The First World War - 1916

In 1916 there had been great demands placed upon the British army and economy. The battle of the Somme had resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, the economy was exhausted by the increased demands for munitions and the unrestricted U Boat campaign was edging Britain towards the brink of starvation. Weary of fighting some Allied politicians began to talk of seeking a peace settlement with the Germans, who incidentally were convinced themselves by this stage that a decisive victory on the battlefield was unlikely.

The debate surrounding the conflict left Herbert Asquith, the Prime Minister, in a dilemma. He was being criticised, by David Lloyd George and the conservative leader, Boner Law, for not fighting the war in an energetic fashion. Lloyd George was, in Asquith's opinion, a nuisance who needed to be tamed. The continuing debate led Asquith to seek a coalition government, hopefully with himself at it's head. The maneuver backfired. The coalition was formed but with David Lloyd George as Prime Minister.

Lloyd George was a highly popular figure amongst the British public. He refused to accept the possibility of defeat and promised to manage the war effort more efficiently. In parliament he denounced the Germans, and threw out their notes requesting a compromise peace. He, along with other notable characters such as Winston Churchill, was going to win the war no matter what.

Other events on the Home Front and in the Dominions can be read here.