This year marks 60 years since the last serviceman was demobbed from National Service. In 1947, the introduction of the National Service Act meant that able-bodied men aged 18-26 were eligible to be conscripted into the British Armed Forces. More than two million men served during this period of conscription following the end of the Second World War. Many served in the UK and Germany, whilst others were posted to locations including Egypt, Libya and Malaya. Our event at the National Memorial Arb

What UK conscription could really look like as five groups most likely to serve first revealed As of January 12, 2026, the debate over a "Citizen Army" has hit fever pitch in the UK following a series of warnings from military experts and former officers. While the Ministry of Defence maintains there are "no plans" for mandatory service, the British Army has hit its smallest size since the Napoleonic era (just under 74,000 regulars), leading analysts like Dr. Mike Martin to warn that conscriptio