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.
Some went willingly, while others were reluctant but resigned. A few were downright bloody-minded, seeing little difference between their call up and the press gangs of Britain's distant past. At first public opinion was behind the idea of peacetime conscription, or national service. It was clear in the immediate post war political landscape that Britain had considerable obligations, and only a limited number of men still in service.
In the milk bars and Lyon's tea shops of those days, no amount of government propaganda could stop youngsters of both sexes grousing about the disruption to their lives caused by national service. It would have an effect on education plans, young boys starting apprenticeships, and on girlfriends faced with the prospect of their partners disappearing with only occasional leave. The only escape, so it seemed, was failing the medical.
There are tragic stories too, of young men who simply couldn't cope with enforced military life, or the pain of separation from their families and for whom suicide was the only way out. But what of the longer term impact on these men? Among the more independent young soldiers, they learnt a contempt for the army, which damaged morale and affected the image of the army to the outside world, not only was it supplying more men than the services could absorb, but it was draining resources to train them, and taking fit and able young men out of the economy. Not to mention those that unwillingly died during national service either in fighting, during atomic tests or as hunman guinea pigs for germ warfare.