Today, the British armed forces welcome people of all sexual orientations, recruiting in gay magazines and organising LGBTQ pride celebrations.
Nevertheless, the impact that they had on changing social attitudes was immense. Sexual acts between men often resulted in corporal punishment or imprisonment, and thus accounts of gay servicemen from this time are rare. The centenary has also offered an opportunity for the less well-known figures of the war to be discussed, including women, black and minority ethnic people and homosexuals, many of whom faced discrimination despite serving their country.