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National Service
For a generation of British teenagers, being 'called up' to do two years National Service during the postwar era of the 1940s/50s was an experience that defined their young lives. These books tell a few of their stories...
RAF memoir

In Defence of the Realm

by Peter Voyse

An erk-some account of the author's RAF National Service from 1954-56
military memoir

Letters Home

By Edmund Hodges
A skilled artist on National Service in Egypt and Cyprus 1955/56 illustrates his letters with paintings and sketches
RAF memoir

My 'Best Blue' Days

by Reg Chiddick

Enjoyable account of the author's RAF National Service in the 1950s
RAF memoir

National Service Erk

by Ronald Swain
A conscripted airman’s experiences with 148 Squadron 1952-3
RAF memoir

RAF National Service in Six Movements

by Roy Taylor
A RAF National Serviceman's experiences in the 1950s
RAF memoir

RAF 'Plumber'

by Michael 'Andy' Anderton
Experiences with things that go bang ~ during 30 years as an RAF Armourer 1953-83
RAF memoir

Return to Gan

by Michael Butler

An account of activities at RAF Gan in 1960-61 and of a recent return visit to see what remains of the former base
Fiction/RAF

Safari Mzuri

by Brian J. Elliott

RAF National Servicemen have a wild time in 1960's Kenya in this entertaining tale
military memoir

Sam Browne's Schooldays

by Berwick Coates
An enjoyable account of National Service in the British Army of the 1950s
military fiction

The Unknown Conscript

by Peter Saunders
An true-to-life tale of National Service recruits in Cyprus during the unrest of the 1950s
Cold War history

We Blazed the Trail

edited by Robin Reid and Malcolm Cleverley 

The short but eventful history of the Civil Defence Experimental Mobile Column 1953/4