National Service: The Best Years of Their Lives

by Trevor Royle, John Peel (Foreword)

More than 2 million men were conscripted to serve in Britain's armed forces during the period of National Service, which began after World War II and was phased out by 1963. Aged just 18, these individuals, many of whom had never left their hometowns before, were put in uniform to serve their nation and taken to some of the furthest reaches of Britain's crumbling empire. It was an experience that left a profound mark on the post-war generations. Using first-hand accounts and official documents, these remarkable times are described in this detailed, entertaining, and hugely informative account of the National Service years.

Genres: British Literature, Military Fiction, History

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1986

About the author

Trevor Royle is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Panel for Commemorating the First World War.

Reviews

[Ishmael Soledad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastically engaging look at the period, a time that helped shape my father but I know nothing about until now.
At times it was a bit of a slog and I suspect it will resonate more with those who are ex military or did national service; but the background narrative of how National Service fitted into the British society of the period alone makes this a worthwhile read.