What were the exceptions to national service in the UK?

Answer 1

I know one way of excluding yourself from National Service was to be heavily involved in politics as servicemen are not allowed to stand for election etc.. National Service encouraged 'frivolous candidates' in the 1950's as they were attempting to avoid NatService.

Additionally:

During the "National Service" era (roughly between the end of WW2 and the early 1960s - the last National Service troops were discharged in 1963) exemptions were allowed as follows:

1. Genuine Conscientious Objectors: eg sincere members of religious groups or other groups (eg Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses, some Haredi Jews, pacifists etc) whose faith/ conviction precluded bearing arms. Many convinced pacifists did serve, however - almost always in non-combatant medical roles such as orderlies in base hospitals.

2. Those already enrolled in other uniformed services (eg police, firefighters), but because generally such services preferred older recruits with some "life experience" to youngsters of 18, in fact most younger applicants to police forces, fire brigades etc were told to do military service before proceeding: it was a definite advantage to have done so!

3. Full-time students already enrolled in university by their 18th birthday were allowed to defer National Service until completion of their degree courses. University graduates were considered potential officers, and many became such. Those found to be unsuitable (ie unwilling/ unable to pass the War Office Selection Board - "Wosbee" - and officer training at an Officer Cadet Training Unit - "OCTU") were usually run through basic recruit training and then employed as non military subjects (eg basic literacy, numeracy, current affairs, and basic sciences, languages etc) instructors in the education branches of the armed services.

4. Certain ministers of religion - usually those already "in orders" or undergoing religious training aged 18 such as students in recognised Yeshiva. Generally, Anglican and Methodist ministers train after university, so potential ministers of such groups may have had student deferments, but most, in fact, did National Service because it was considered valuable "life experience" for those planning for a career in ministry. Many young Roman Catholic priests and Anglican ministers were instructed by their bishops to serve for a period as chaplains in the Armed Forces: this was particularly true of individuals regarded as a little immature/ in need of more life experience or toughening before being assigned to a curacy.

5. Some occupational groups - eg key workers in mining, agriculture, shipbuilding etc - were often exempt from military service, but in truth many from such groups did it anyway: either out of a sense of duty, or - probably more commonly! - because it was a bit of an adventure; got them away from home/ out of a rut etc.. A very high proportion of this type subsequently signed-up as "regulars".

It's important to remember that in late 1940s/ 1950s Britain World War 2 loomed very large: rationing continued until 1954; German bomb damage was everywhere; everyone had lived through the war - it was a recent memory.

Then there was the developing Cold War: Stalin's clampdown in Eastern Europe; Mao's coming to power in China; the Berlin Blockade & Airlift; War in Korea; Communist insurgency in Malaya; The Bomb etc etc.. Most young Britons felt they had to "do their bit", and National Service was regarded by many as no more than a continuation of the sacrifices made by the older generation.

In addition, opportunities for foreign travel/ adventure were very limited for most, and a stint in the military held out the possibility of going places which seemed exotic or interesting to many, and which were inaccessible to most civilians at the time. Not like today when for very little money you can be in Berlin, Prague, or Singapore within hours!

So, in truth, relatively few British youngsters sought exemption from National Service, and although a minority did object strongly, and many found it tedious and pointless, most just accepted it and got on with it. Many National Service veterans regard it as one of their most transformative life experiences, and are glad to have done it.