conscription

[Gooch]

When did conscription begin and end in UK?

[dotjhawkes]

Conscription is when a country calls up able bodiesd persons in time of war, do you mean that, or National Service?

[VINNY100_2]

1916 to the 1950s.

[Quizmonster]

If you are referring to the period after World War II, click here for a website that explains the government Act that brought National Service into being was passed in 1947. The last National Serviceman left the Army in 1963.

[netibiza]

My brother was born in 1940. but when he reached 18 years old (1958) there was no National Service.

[Quizmonster]

Oh yes there was, Neti ! I know because I was still doing mine in 1958 and there were many who had not yet even started theirs!

[Quizmonster]

The following is an extract from the Wikipedia article about National Service...

"Although it officially ended on 31 December 1960, the last National Serviceman, Lieutenant Richard Vaughan of the Royal Army Pay Corps, was not discharged until 13 May 1963. The last man actually to be called up for National Service was Private Fred Turner of the Army Catering Corps, who was discharged on 7 May 1963."

I presume, Neti, that your brother's birthday is December 31st. If so, I presume the authorities let him get off, as they'd planned to end it on that date, 1960. I'm not sure what happened to the two guys mentioned above, but I don't suppose you can say something is "over" as long as somebody is still doing it. The only other possibility is that they 'signed on' for further service after their two years were up...ie became regulars, in effect, rather than National Servicemen. I must have a look into that.