During the war soldiers in the U.K. were used not only to support bases and move military stores and but also to work on the land, on the railways and canals, in industry and in hospitals.
 
Agriculture
 
In June 1915 Parliament was informed that consideration was being given to releasing soldiers to help with the forthcoming harvest.  The following month soldiers stationed in the U.K. with agricultural experience were allowed to volunteer to help with the harvest.  The following year the scheme was extended to include men without agricultural experience.
 
As more and more agricultural workers were called up the Army had to find a way to allow more soldiers to work on the land. In February 1917 the Army created Agricultural Companies comprising men of lower medical categories, many of who had no agricultural experience.  These companies were to become part of the Labour Corps in June 1917. By the end of the war there were over 75,000 soldiers in Labour Corps agricultural companies working on farms in the U.K.
 
Docks and Canals
 
March 1915 saw the creation of the 1st Liverpool Dock Battalion the members of which were registered Liverpool dockworkers.  A second Battalion was formed in 1916. The Battalions worked unloading military supplies at the Merseyside Docks.
 
Whilst Liverpool had its Dock Battalion the same was not true for the other ports. The Army’s answer was the creation, from February 1916 onwards, of Transport Workers Battalions. The members of which were used to unload and move military stores at other British docks and on the canal system.  The soldiers in these Battalions did not carry arms and could serve overseas or be transferred to other units.
 
 Industry
 
The Shell Shortage during the spring of 1915 led to the Army drawing up a register of soldiers skilled in munitions work.  This included men serving in front line units in France, almost 2,000 being released to work in munitions factories in the U.K.  The Release from the Colours scheme ended in January 1917 by which time almost 50,000 soldiers had been employed in munitions work, although the majority were not skilled tradesmen.  
 
Military Camps and Hospitals
 
By the end of 1915 there were thousands of military camps and buildings in the U.K. and the Army was desperately short of men to maintain them and the roads around them.  Initially 6 Infantry Works Companies, each 100 men strong were established to do this work. Within a few months these 6 Companies had grown to 80. 
 
In June 1916 five Infantry Works Battalions were created in addition to the IWCs and a further two Battalions created by the end of the year. Unlike Infantry Battalions the Works Battalions were not restricted to 1,000 men but varied in size from around 2,000 men to almost 13,000. 
 
In February 1917 there was over 11,000 men serving in 112 IWCs and 40,000 in the seven Works Battalions.  These men were to become Home Service companies of the Labour Corps in April and May 1917.
 
Following the formation of the Labour Corps the number of men employed in the U.K. in Home Service Companies, including the Agricultural Companies,  grew from 93,000 in July 1917 to almost 180,000 by the beginning 0f 1919.
 
Men were employed maintaining bases, working for the R.E. maintaining and building military facilities including roads, railways and airfields. The Labour Corps provided men at hospitals and convalescent homes for both maintenance and to move wounded soldiers.  Men were also used to undertake regimental employments at army bases acting in a wide range of duties including clerks, batmen, telephone operators, storemen and shoe repairers.