FOLLOWING the end of the Second World War, Britain’s worldwide obligations were still considerable. The National Service Act saw 6,000 18-year-old boys called up every fortnight to serve in the Armed Forces.

With few exceptions made, apart from those engaged in work such as coal mining and farming, service was for 18 months, later extended to two years.

The 18 years of conscription would see 395 National Servicemen die for their country.

In all, 2.5m young men completed National Service.

With call-ups officially ending in December 1960, the last National Serviceman left the Armed Forces in May 1963.

Already a Naval reservist, Tony Doyle deferred his call-up to compete his studies as a chartered accountant.

Other than the swimming test, Mr Doyle did not find basic training very onerous.

With a surplus of seamen, he became a signalman, learning Morse code and Semaphore.

Passing his commission, after four months’ training he was packed off to Malta.

He then spent the next year as an officer aboard HMS Mediator doing chart corrections or towing targets at sea for gunnery practice.

He said: “I spent quite some time sightseeing. It was a bit lonely as the regulars there all had family and so didn’t mix much.

“I am glad I did it. Young people would benefit from National Service today.

“I learned discipline and self-reliance, and I saw life and places.”

An invitation to visit a fellow officer on his return to the UK enabled Mr Doyle to meet his future wife, Sally.

Allan Watkins tells a different story. As a commercial apprentice, he was reluctant to exchange his home, job and girlfriend for RAF life.

He said: “I can honestly say, at the time I wished I wasn’t there. After five weeks I got a 48-hour pass. I was then posted to the maintenance unit at RAF Rufforth York and stayed there for the rest of my service.

“I roughed it at Rufforth, living in a Nissen hut. It was so cold I once remember seeing snow coming in through an opening in the roof.

“When it was over, I didn’t go back to my old job. At the time I thought it was a complete waste of time; looking back it was a good thing. I think it should be compulsory, as now there is no respect for authority.”

Hitch-hiking every weekend to see girlfriend Eileen, Mr Watkins saved up the deposit for a house and still has his shoe brushes from his RAF days.

In 1952, John Tuck got the call-up into the 1st Battalion East Yorks Regiment.

He was greeted by the regimental sergeant major who marched up and down inspecting the recruits. His verdict was: “Cor blimey!

God help the British Empire if I’m to make you lot soldiers.”

Haircuts were next with everybody ordered to have a “proper” haircut. Mr Tuck once incurred the wrath of the RSM for the sin of walking across “his” drill parade.

Sent overseas to Malaysia, on arrival in Singapore Mr Tuck and his unit were deployed to combat what were deemed “Commie terrorists”

(CTs) by the troops. With few amenities, they lived in tents, with no radios, and any mail from home was a lifeline.

Mr Tuck said: “We didn’t mix with locals other than the occasional football game, when we had armed sentries watching. I lost several colleagues and saw many terrible things there.

“I enjoyed my time in the Army, it was a worthwhile experience. I think young people today would benefit from a spell in the forces.”

Receiving his call in June 1960, reluctant solider Gerald Hodgson joined the Royal Engineers at the age of 21 and was one of the last National Servicemen to be commissioned.

He said: “Basic training was a fairly unpleasant experience.

“I was marked out as a potential officer but dismally failed the selection.

“I ended up in Malta running Movement Control; the sergeant was away so I was in charge of some local workers who weren’t keen to work after lunch. I was also an announcer, DJ and newsreader on the British Forces radio station.

“Later, when asked if I wanted to re-try for a commission, I planned to go, fail and get a week in the UK.

However, much to my horror, I passed.”

Commissioned into the RAOC, his pay went from 29 shillings (£1.45) to six guineas (£6.30). On demob, he resumed his old job.

Some of his fellow conscripts weren’t so lucky and were forced to serve several extra months.

In his verdict on service, Mr Hodgson said: “I don’t feel I benefited from National Service. I have nothing against the principle of doing community work but I really don’t think the forces are the right place.

“In my opinion, two generations of British men learned to skive by trying to look busy, as for the majority of National Servicemen there simply wasn’t enough to do.”