National Service

[ceylon220]

Just finished a book called "The Call Up" by Tom Hickman telling the experience of the lads getting their call up papers after the second world war, this was given the name of National Service and started off as 18 months service and later put up to 2 years and in some cases 2 1/2 years. The majority of the call up was to the Army, the RN took in 6000 over the full period of NS----I never came across any in my time in the navy although at the finish of NS the RN only had 500.There are a lot of articles relating to the first few weeks in training which brought back memories to my days in training as a regular back in1953, then it goes on to days in the Korean conflict , Aden, Malaya,and the Suez----I enjoyed it and I am sure you will to.

[jainso31]

Five of my male classmates from Berwick Grammar School all joined the RN in 1949, all having gained their Durham University School Certificate ,(forerunner of the O Level) and all had a whale of a time .I remembered how I envied them.My father had just come home after a six year war at sea; and would not hear of my joining the navy with my pals.

jainso31

[Dave Hutson]

Just finished a book called "The Call Up" by Tom Hickman telling the experience of the lads getting their call up papers after the second world war, this was given the name of National Service and started off as 18 months service and later put up to 2 years and in some cases 2 1/2 years. The majority of the call up was to the Army, the RN took in 6000 over the full period of NS----I never came across any in my time in the navy although at the finish of NS the RN only had 500.There are a lot of articles relating to the first few weeks in training which brought back memories to my days in training as a regular back in1953, then it goes on to days in the Korean conflict , Aden, Malaya,and the Suez----I enjoyed it and I am sure you will to.

Like you Dave I joined in 53 and when I went to Sea we had NS guys who were Coders. They were usually well educated and took on the role of Schoolies on smaller ships [Destroyers and below] but doubled up as Coders attached to the Comms Dept for Cryptography duty] Found them generally to be an asset once they accepted lower deck life - even if they did wear square rig. Not many of them elected to sign on compared to Jack Dusty's or Chefs.

Happy days mate.

Dave H

[Ednamay]

If my memory serves me, there were certain problems about National Service, during its later days; you could only opt for RAF if you already had 'experience', i.e. Air Cadet Corps, likewise the Navy, if you had been in Sea Cadets or were prepared to sign for 2 1/2 years you could choose. Does anyone else recall these provisos?

Edna

[Dave Hutson]

Dunno about that Edna but I do remember getting my callup letter - problem was I was in the Med at the time on a Destroyer - oops :confused::confused: someone boobooed :D

Dave H

[MaggieRedhead]

If my memory serves me, there were certain problems about National Service, during its later days; you could only opt for RAF if you already had 'experience', i.e. Air Cadet Corps, likewise the Navy, if you had been in Sea Cadets or were prepared to sign for 2 1/2 years you could choose. Does anyone else recall these provisos? Edna

We were living in Yorkshire, and my 2 older brothers were due for National Service.
We are Irish Catholics, so our parents were worried they might be sent to Northern Ireland,
and therefore did not want them to join the Army.
My older brother Peter had experience as an engineer making parts for Vickers Armstrong, so he got into the RAF
on aircraft maintenance, and a year later he was able to ask for our brother to be stationed with him.
Peter was transferred to 617 Squadron at Scampton and went on the London to New Zealand Air Race
with the 617 Canberra bombers in 1953. It was a great experience.
Terry was at RAF Lindholme which is now a jail. (He says that wasn't much of a change :) )
Both of them were able to hitchhike home from base on free weekends.

[MaggieRedhead]

Apologies - in my last post I forgot to mention an excellent book about National Service,
called "Stand by your beds!" by David Finday Clark.

I have it on good authority from someone who experienced it, that this is
a very good account of National Service, with just the right humour.

[seaJane]

I'm fairly sure my mum's older brother did his National Service in the Navy but then his father (my grandfather) joined as a Boy in 1910, stayed to CPO 1935 and then rejoined 1939-1952 as a Bosun, so my uncle probably had a lead-in.

Mum's other brother was at RAF Coltishall but went out to Malaya? I'm not sure how he did both.

And Dad was in the Royal Signals at Catterick 1954-1955.

[Kevin123]

Although my grandfather served 28 years in the navy his sons did their national service in the army, here's a photo of my uncle in his working dress from 1951, he's on the left in the first photo. Kevin.

[alanandbren]

Although my grandfather served 28 years in the navy his sons did their national service in the army, here's a photo of my uncle in his working dress from 1951, he's on the left in the first photo. Kevin.

They don't dress them like that anymore,
Alan

[Kevin123]

Even the dads army boys were smarter. :D Kevin.