The navy league, the rising generation and the first world war

Abstract

The Navy League (founded 1894-95) regarded the cultivation of 'sea-mindedness', including among children, as one of its most important fields of propaganda and activity. The League's work with children and young people was manifested in several ways: the establishment of 'training ships' for working-class boys, the formation of branches at public schools, and the dispatch of its famous wall map to board schools. In combination, these endeavours contributed to the increase in 'militaristic' associational culture before the First World War. Press coverage of and public responses to the Navy League's work with children attracted both support and criticism. For despite outward appearances-uniforms, ranks and naval culture-the Navy League's 'sea cadets' remained civilians and members of a voluntary organisation. Yet, during the First World War, older boys were increasingly likely to see combat and the Navy League published stories about the heroism of former Sea Cadets and boy sailors. These sat alongside a more ambiguous assessment by navalists of the success of their movement in inculcating sea-mindedness among the civilian population. Perceived failure in the latter led the Navy League to focus almost all of its energies at the end of the war on the 'rising generation'.