In total, two-thirds of conscripts served in the British Army, around a quarter in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and only a small minority in the Royal Navy.
Roles were varied, with many serving as clerks or carrying out non-combat positions. However, around one in ten found themselves on the frontline. This could be serving in the thick of guerrilla warfare in the jungles of Malaya or battling in the freezing trenches of the Korean War.
Life in the British Army
Roger Coppock was one of around 1.3 million National Servicemen to join the British Army.
Part of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, between 1955 and 1957, Roger was 18 years old when he carried out sentry duty at Buckingham Palace; later, he was moved to West Germany.
“My attitude to National Service was that I knew I had to do it, so I gave it my best shot. It was tough at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the camaraderie was second to none.”
Life in the Royal Air Force
Dr James (or Jim) Watson was one of around 440,000 National Servicemen in the RAF.
Joining at the age of 19, in between university courses, Jim was a driver and gunner serving in Jordan and Cyprus between 1956 and 1958.
Stationed first at RAF Amman in Jordan, he was there when French and British forces invaded Egypt during the Suez Crisis.
“That was a critical time; we thought the Third World War was starting… We didn’t know what was going on.”
Life in the Royal Navy
Denny Terry was one of around 43,000 National Servicemen to join the Royal Navy.
Born and bred in West Sussex, he started work as a plumber before being called up in 1954 at the age of 18.
Holding the rank of ordinary seaman on HMS Ocean, he was posted to Gibraltar, where he experienced what he describes as a strict and regimented life.
“You were in mess rooms with about 20–30 people. Sort of hung your hammocks up and slept in those. Then you went outside and either started painting some stuff or did little jobs that needed doing round the ship.”
Listen to the words of National Servicemen describing what life was like.