PaulF52 Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 Hello All, I believe that most youngsters (after 1948) aged between 17 - 21 had to commit to National Service. Would they normally be called up on their 17th birthday and are there records held on those called up. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 This is Second World War rather than First, so a moderator will probably close this down. However, service records are still with MOD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullybrone Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 Hi, All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 30 were called up. They initially served for 18 months but in 1950, during the Korean War (1950-53), this was increased to two years. The official exemptions were blind and mentally ill people, clergymen and men in government positions abroad. From 1949 until 1963 more than two million men were called up to the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force. You can get this era service records from UK MOD - cost £30. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF52 Posted 10 March , 2015 Author Share Posted 10 March , 2015 Hello both, Thanks to both for your kind replies. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 You would avoid it by having certain defects. Hayfever was one and flat feet another, much to the chagrin of those who passed A1 - Colin Cowdrey, the cricketer, played for England but failed his medical with flat feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnumbellum Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 30 were called up. They initially served for 18 months but in 1950, during the Korean War (1950-53), this was increased to two years. The official exemptions were blind and mentally ill people, clergymen and men in government positions abroad. From 1949 until 1963 more than two million men were called up to the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force. You can get this era service records from UK MOD - cost £30. The reference to the increase of full-time service in 1950 is ambiguously stated as "during the Korean War (1950-53)", For the sake of clarity, the increase occurred in 1950, during the Korean War, and because of it, but the period did not revert at the end of the war. The period of two years full time service continued until conscription ended in 1963. I mention "full-time service", because respondents so far have omitted to mention the period of reserve service, with a liability for three recalls of up to 20 days each, following full-time service. When originally instituted from 1 January 1949, the period of reserve service, following 18 months full-time, was four years. With the extension of full-time to two years in 1950, the reserve liability was reduced to three and a half years, but the potential liability for three recalls of up to twenty days each remained throughout. Finally, the statutory exemptions provided for conscientious objection, for which the system set up during WW2 was continued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 10 March , 2015 Share Posted 10 March , 2015 Sorry folks. The key turns. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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