National service

National Service was the name given to the system of military conscription employed in Great Britain between 1949 and 1960. The system of wartime conscription used between 1939 and 1949 was also officially called National Service, although in fact was usually referred to as "war service". The same term is still used to describe the compulsory military (and sometimes civilian) service that is still implemented in some countries, including Singapore, Greece, South Korea, Israel and the Russian Federation.

United Kingdom

National Service had been introduced in 1939 and continued after the Second World War. It was formalised in peacetime by the National Service Act 1948. From January 1 1949, every man over the age of eighteen was expected to serve in the armed forces for eighteen months, and remain on the reserve list for four years thereafter. The period of basic duty was extended to two years in 1950 as a response to the Korean War, although the subsequent time in the reserves was reduced by six months to compensate. National Servicemen who showed promise could be commissioned. The Territorial Army and other reserve forces, which the former National Servicemen joined to fulfil their reserve commitment, expanded massively between 1949 and 1963, with units in almost every town and full regiments and battalions in many.

Related Topics:
Second World War - January 1 - 1949 - 1950 - Korean War - Commissioned - Territorial Army - Regiment - Battalion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although it officially ended on 31 December 1960, the last National Serviceman, Lieutenant Richard Vaughan of the Royal Army Pay Corps, was not discharged until 13 May 1963. The last man to actually be called up for National Service was Private Fred Turner of the Army Catering Corps, who was discharged on 7 May 1963.

Related Topics:
31 December - 1960 - Royal Army Pay Corps - 13 May - 1963 - Army Catering Corps - 7 May

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was the first and only time that peace-time conscription occurred in the UK. The British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy were voluntary professional organisations before National Service began and have returned to that status since the end of National Service, despite repeated calls from social conservatives for a return to enforced conscription. The only times when conscription had previously been introduced by the Government were during the later part of the First World War and during the Second World War.

Related Topics:
British Army - Royal Air Force - Royal Navy - First World War - Second World War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

National Service had a profound effect on British society and culture. Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones, along with many young men, first heard and then played Rock and Roll whilst stationed in West Germany; authors like Leslie Thomas and David Lodge wrote books based on their experiences; actor Oliver Reed, comedian Tony Hancock, and his writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson developed their talents whilst serving in the armed forces. Most importantly, though, National Service gave something for young men to rebel against, and the end of National Service was when the idea of the teenager in Britain really began.

Related Topics:
Bill Wyman - The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll - West Germany - Leslie Thomas - David Lodge - Oliver Reed - Tony Hancock - Ray Galton and Alan Simpson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~