National Service exemption

Jake'sGran

This is probably the wrong place to put this but I can't find any forum that is really suitable.

Does anyone know how a person became exempt from doing their National Service when it was usually mandatory for young men. I think this was during the late 1950s but not really sure. I do know about conscientious objectors but the person I am thinking of said they just did not send for him. The only other reason I can think of is poor health.

Was it ever possible that some people were not accepted because their standard of education was inadequate? Apart from the man I am thinking of my sister in law said one time that she just refused to go and I didn't think this was allowed either.

Errata

Men were exempt from National Service if they worked in one of the three "essential services": coal mining, farming and the merchant navy for a period of 8 years. If they quit early, they were subject to be called up. Exemption continued for conscientious objectors, with the same tribunal system and categories.

Not sure what your SIL means, only males were called up for national service.

wildbri

There was compulsory work for women but only during the war years not in the fifties,
some joined the forces instead of factory or farm work.
Men were "called up" at 18 when your papers arrived but you could be deferred until the age of 21 or when your training finised. NS finished in 1960 so I suppose it could have ended whilst some men were deferred, so they would have been called up but missed the "fun". You could fail the medical for NS but the forces had a good educational system and training courses for trades, so I don't think you could avoid it for poor education, certainly they were very keen to have me. regards bri

jfdi

Exempted occupations didn't get called up either - my Dad missed it coz he worked in the Dockyard.

Jake'sGran

wildbri wrote: »

There was compulsory work for women but only during the war years not in the fifties,
some joined the forces instead of factory or farm work.
Men were "called up" at 18 when your papers arrived but you could be deferred until the age of 21 or when your training finised. NS finished in 1960 so I suppose it could have ended whilst some men were deferred, so they would have been called up but missed the "fun". You could fail the medical for NS but the forces had a good educational system and training courses for trades, so I don't think you could avoid it for poor education, certainly they were very keen to have me. regards bri

My SIL does get muddled about things (she is about 80 now) but I remember when she said she had refused she did give the impression it was for serving in a branch of the forces. Not important really; I was more curious about the OP. He was sent away from home for a long period when a child to some kind of hospital type place to get "built up" as they used to say. Therefore, perhaps it was a health issue at call up time.

Errata

He was sent away from home for a long period when a child to some kind of hospital type place to get "built up" as they used to say. Therefore, perhaps it was a health issue at call up time.

It may have been TB, which was rife and required a long cure in a hospital.