THE RETURN OF NATIONAL SERVICE?
British National Service began with an Act of Parliament of the same name in 1948. The subsequent wars, such as Malaya, Korea, Borneo and the Cold War made it necessary to maintain a strong defence capability without the immense costs of a large standing army, navy and air force. All fit young men were eligible for a ‘call up’ at the age of 18 for two years of military service. This could be deferred if the conscript was in a preferred and important job, such as mining or in higher education at university. To many, national service was considered a
