The years of National
Service cover almost
two decades - from World
War Two to the birth
of the Beatles. In all,
between 1945 and 1963,
2.5 million young men
were compelled to do
their time in National
Service - with 6,000
being called up every
fortnight, usually around
their 18th birthday.
The summons came
a few weeks after the
medical, delivered by
the postman in a plain
brown envelope, with
the instruction that
the prospective recruit
had to report to barracks
for the start of ten
weeks of basic training.
For reasons no one can
now remember, the first
day of soldiering was
always on a Thursday.
Overnight, the national
servicemen had to learn
a new language. 'Blanco',
'spit n polish', 'rifle
oil', 'pull throughs',
and the dreaded 'bull'
and 'jankers'. Once
they had been shaved
and kitted out - all
within a few hours of
arrival - the rookie
national servicemen
all looked identical.
The arena for the
breaking in of these
young men was the parade
ground. In squads they
learnt how to obey orders
instinctively, and to
react to a single word
of command having
to cope with a torrent
of abuse from the drill
sergeants and other
NCOs.
After basic training,
the raw recruits would
be turned into soldiers,
sailors and airmen,
and they would be posted
to join regiments or
units at home or abroad.
Nearly 400 national
servicemen would die
for their country in
war zones like Korea
(1950 1953) and Malaya
(1948 1960). Others
took part in atomic
tests on Christmas Island
(1957 & 1958), or were
even used as human guinea
pigs for germ-warfare
tests.
What started with
honourable intentions
of keeping Britain's
post-war army viable,
lasted until the 1960s
and had a profound effect
on an entire generation.
Men who did their National
Service were entitled
to wear the National
Service (1945 1960)
Medal.
Lancashire
Bryan
Douglas
Young men such as
Blackburn Rovers & England
football legend, Bryan
Douglas, did their National
Service - in Bryans
case it interrupted
his football career.
Born in Blackburn on
the 22nd May 1934, he
joined his home town
club on the ground staff
and signed professional
terms in 1952. It was
not until he returned
from National Service
in 1954 that he made
his debut for the club
at Notts County in September
that year. He established
himself in the team,
ironically, due to regular
right winger Roy Vernon
going away to do his
bit in 1955.
Brindle
With Brindle being
mainly a farming community
in the 1950s, young
men were needed on the
farms. In one case,
George Rawcliffe from
Mintholme Farm in Brindle
had his call up deferred
on a number of occasions.
