'Reluctant Warriors: Memories of National Service 1945 to 1960'.

[@ShevillMathers]

My time arrived July 1956, signed up for 5 years in the RAF. Following basic training at RAF Padgate, and medical training at ? Near Preston, Lancs. Posted to RAF Hospital Wegberg in Germany, arriving there December 24th. At 7pm. This was the start of the best years of my young life away from home (Leeds). As operating theatre staff we were not only the hospital theatre staff but were the theatre staff who formed the RAF Mobile Field Operating Theatre, for which we had extensive training and exercises, nothing like it in civilian life. As a former student at Leeds Medical School in a newly established University Dept of Surgery, I spent long days in the extensive LGI operating theatres under the guidance of the newly appointed Professor of Surgery. This pre service experience held me in good stead at Wegberg, and in many ways my training continued under the direction of excellent medical/surgical/anaesthetic personnel. All in all a fantastic experience that I would repeat in a heartbeat. My time in Germany is being documented by a German historian at Paderborn University, a Dr Bettina Blum. Here book and portable displays are how the local population interacted with the military forces in the regions they occupied. Greetings from Tasmania Australia.

[@jhindle7883]

I did my National Service from 1957 - 1959 with the Royal Signals; I was 21on entry, having been deferred because of apprenticeship. After basic training at Catterick i was sent to Nr10 Wireless Training Unit at a little village called Woodhouse Eaves Nr Leicester - I was not even told what I was to be trained as. It turned out that I was to become a 'special operator' and my job was to intercept and read the Russian military radio traffic which was transmitted in high speed morse code. It was all top secret and we had all to sign the Official Secrets Act - I am still likely to be locked up in the Tower of London for revealing all this, but after the passage of 65 years it is hardly relevant anymore. I absolutely loved my time in the army, I played for the Regimental rugby team, who in my time there were unbeaten in BOAR - I played all over Germany including Berlin. Great times with the best mates you'll ever have; I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[@johnbrigg1776]

The confusion over Bevin boys, who were recruited during the war as an alternative to military service, probably arises be because merchant seamen, coal miners and farm workers were exempt from NS call up but ONLY as long as they continued in those jobs until they reached 26. I remember two in the Durham Light Infantry so from the North East who were both so conscripted. A miner who, although still working in the mine, took a surface job which did not qualify and a merchant seaman who took a shore job

[@ctmcollins4160]

"You 'orrible little men..are in the army now...." That sounds so like Spike Milligan!! Also makes methink of a series called "Get Some In".......never did NS....but I did join the ATC...if that counts? Thanks for the video.

[@colinbryan8265]

You could become a 3 year regular at twice the National service pay and choice of regiment. Being a skilled coach trimmer, I opted for the REME. What a great bunch of blokes. Get some in, and stop flapping!

[@porthcawlu3a722]

Thanks for that, Colin. I think if I'd done N national Service I might have been tempted to sign on for 3 years. Definitely a better life! Malcolm Cowper

[@turnitback]

I can't quite make out what you mean in your last sentence, Colin.

[@colinbryan8265]

Turnitback. This was the language when you compared your service number. Get some in, meant If his was more than yours( you had been in longer than him) Stop flapping, referred to the blancoing of equipment, and polishing your brassware, before going on guard duty. I must admit. It seems ridiculous now. But we were 18 years old then. I’m now 86. Blancoing was the colour you put on your gaiters, belt webbing straps and bullet pouches.

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

@@porthcawlu3a722 National servicemen did exactly the same training and jobs as regulars but got far less money something we always grumbled about.

[@johnbrigg1776]

It was not made clear, but NS was purely a recruiting tool. ALL recruits, whether in for 2 or 22 years or anything in between,did basic training together, had the same kit and wore the same uniform. Furthermore no trades or duties were denied NS men if they could be trained in their two years. The Russian linguist course and, I believe, aircrew training in the RAF, took 18 months but they were still available to be recalled should the need arise so it was not wasted. The only two Army corps which NS could not join were Small Arms School Corps and Military Provost Staff Corps which were only open to senior NCO’s .

[@dpagain2167]

Bevin Boys ended in March 1948.

[@grahamlait1969]

The strange thing about this post is that the chap giving the talk looks younger than his audience, all of whom appear to be elderly and therefore likely to be familiar with national service on, shall we say, a rather more personal level than the lecturer.

[@turnitback]

He acknowledged that fact in his opening couple of sentences. He's a scholar who has studied the subject and researched the subject and the views of those who were conscripted. He doesn't claim to have experience of his own.

[@johnplus1]

A slight correction to your talk. The final intakes for National Service served 2 1/2 years not the normal 2. This was done because recruitment to the regular army was not high enough.

[@Mopsyboy]

My Dad had to do an extra 6 months because of the building of the Berlin Wall

[@brandtbecker1810]

Those damned Soviets couldn't touch anything without it turning to shit. Spent 2 years in the US Army (Third Armored Division) serving alongside our wonderful British allies - and the super guys of the German Bundeswehr. Best time of my youth. Wish I could go back and do it all over again. I think every young person should have to do at least one year of service of some kind - not necessarily military - but be a part of something bigger than themselves and their stupid electronic devices.

[@channelfogg6629]

'Those damned Soviets couldn't touch anything without it turning to shit.' - Unlike the American triump in Vietnam... and in Afghanistan... and in Iraq. Surely you noticed or were your blinkers on?

[@brandtbecker1810]

@@channelfogg6629 You have a good point - this is because the USA wants so badly to be the next USSR. Plus idiot Bush never should've started something for which there were no real plans for completion.

[@duesbury2]

National Service cost me financially greatly. As an architect I would have been earning well. Army pay and the disruption was bad for me . Especially being sent to Cyprus dealing with terrorists in 1958.

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

Yes ,a sore point for NS men.Same training and jobs as regulars ,but far less pay.

[@Richard500]

My mother was in married quarters in Famagusta during TWO emergencies - She should have got a medal!! As it was her husband got one instead.

[@duncancallum]

No different from all other National Servicemen doing their two years.

[@kazkazimierz1742]

In another video on this topic it was stated that becoming an officer as a National Service chap was financially onerous. They were paid less than the regulars but had to pay the same mess fees.

[@Richard500]

They were paid ten shillings less than a 15 year old Junior Leader in the same Corps or Regiment. However, not all NS soldiers served on "active service" as was also the case of regulars. So, why would it be fair and reasonable to give a medal to those who just did their NS in Britain at the same time as their Regular counterparts who won't get a medal? It's a daft idea. One of the last National Servicemen was a general duties Lance Corporal in the barracks where I was with him finally leaving in 1961. So he would get a medal and the blokes he worked with (regulars) won't.?

[@arthurbaldwin1804]

Sit down and let some of the guys in the audience who know from personal experience tell you what it was really like.

[@porthcawlu3a722]

Porthcawl University of the third age. The wealth of knowledge that this age group has, it is usual for members of the audience to comment and question. When giving a lecture or talk we are aware that there are people in the audience who know more about parts of the subject than we do. This is a knowledge sharing group many people contribute their expertise. Sum of these videos you can hear the audience question comment or add their expertise. Trying to get them to speak into the microphone so you can hear them is more difficult. Malcolm is talking about his published book Reluctant Warriors. Contributions from the audience Sharing their knowledge are always welcome as it grows our own knowledge.

[@hurricane7950]

Umm umm ummm umm.