National Service was a form of peacetime conscription, whereby all able-bodied young men aged between 7 and 21 had to serve within one of the British armed forces for 18 months. They then remained on the reserve list. Those in full-time education were able to defer their service until they had completed their studies. After 1950, those undertaking their national service saw active service during military operations in Cyprus, Korea, Malaya and Kenya. National service formally ended in 1960, although those who had deferred still had to complete their terms.
