Pre-War Conscription

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by handtohand22, Nov 3, 2008.

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  1. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

    There was a form of conscription before the Second World War. I think it was called Militia men. Can anyone clear this up for me please.
     
  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Hand to hand -
    yes you are quite right as many - not all 20 year olds were "invited" to join for six months training to prepare in case of war - this was late '38 / early '39 and of course some ran into the start of the war and were stuck for the next five years.
    Cheers
     
  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    The gradual mobilisation of men into the armed services was covered by the National Service Acts legislation and as Tom states was initiated about May 1939 with the intention that those called up would serve 6 months.With the outbreak of war,these people remained conscripted and served throughout the war.An equaintance of mine was called up in May 1939 for the said 6 months and saw his war out in Burma having been on the retreat to India.He described how the oil wells were destroyed on the retreat and how abandoned army lorry engines were run to destruction to prevent their use to the Japanese.

    The National Service Acts Legislation covered conscription until it ended in 1961, (I think it was.)
     
  4. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    This happened to my Grandfather, he was "invited" about July 1939 and ended-up serving until 1946. But he was 21 years-old, not 20.
     
  5. handtohand22

    handtohand22 Senior Member

    Thanks everyone for the insight.
     
  6. Drayton

    Drayton Senior Member

    The gradual mobilisation of men into the armed services was covered by the National Service Acts legislation and as Tom states was initiated about May 1939 with the intention that those called up would serve 6 months.With the outbreak of war,these people remained conscripted and served throughout the war.An equaintance of mine was called up in May 1939 for the said 6 months and saw his war out in Burma having been on the retreat to India.He described how the oil wells were destroyed on the retreat and how abandoned army lorry engines were run to destruction to prevent their use to the Japanese.

    The National Service Acts Legislation covered conscription until it ended in 1961, (I think it was.)

    The legislation enforcing conscription to the Militia for 20-22-year-olds in 1939 was the Military Training Act 1939. Subsequent legislation enacting full-time conscription was by means of the National Service (Armed Forces) Acts, beginning in 1939
     
  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  8. phylo_roadking

    phylo_roadking Very Senior Member

    Just seeing this thread for the first time...

    and how abandoned army lorry engines were run to destruction to prevent their use to the Japanese.


    Did it work??? It didn't work too well in France - quite a few British vehicles were simply given a rebore, new pistons and put into Axis service...
     
  9. Drayton

    Drayton Senior Member

  10. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Just seeing this thread for the first time...



    Did it work??? It didn't work too well in France - quite a few British vehicles were simply given a rebore, new pistons and put into Axis service...

    I do not think Sid stayed to confirm the rendering ineffective of British Army transports.The action was taken to deny the immediate use of the transport by the Japanese.Recovery of vehicles in Europe is a different matter to that in Burma where spares support and mobile workshops would have been unreliable.

    One slash and burn policy was very important and that was the wrecking of the Burmah oil business on the retreat, so much so that in the late 1950s,Burmah oil were still trying to claim compensation from HM Government which they ultimately failed to do at High Court level.
     
  11. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Drayton , Sometimes it helps to put other acts in to give an . oh never mind! If I have to explain something the fault is mine for not explaining it properly in the first place.
     

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