The Great War was the first modern war, with the use of machinery, tanks and trench warfare; troops dug in along the battle lines as ground was lost and gained. Some of the wars greatest losses came from these land battles, which would include The Battle of Mons, The Somme and Passchendaele. Inspired by Lord Kitchener's recruitment campaigns, and the 1916 conscription act, the British army went from a peace time volunteer force of 400,000 to approximately 4 million men serving during the Great War.