Young men were posted all around the world
Most National Servicemen were based in the UK, with just over half of conscripts in 1954 serving in Britain. However, many served in British garrisons around the world, from Germany to the Far East. National Service evolved to meet the changing needs placed on the Armed Forces, with men deployed in conflicts such as the Korean War, the outbreak of which saw the period of service extended to two years.
For those posted abroad, the journey could be long and arduous, taking them to very different climates.
“We boarded the troopship HMT Devonshire… it was seven weeks’ sailing from Liverpool to Pusan and we passed many countries — Gibraltar, Port Said, Ceylon, Aden and Singapore.”
Charlie Daynes
Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, National Service 1952–1954