National service has become part of the mythology of a braver, stronger Britain, where young men did their duty for their country and ended up having a damn good time doing it. But did they? What did people really think of National Service — and why were so many of them utterly relieved when it came to an end? 

Ros Taylor talks to Richard Vinen, a historian at King’s College London and author of National Service: A Generation in Uniform, and Martin Stone, who joined the RAF in 1950. 

• “I did have one near death mistake there… I thought that’s it, I’ve probably had it.” – Martin Stone 

• “The category of people who are keenest on it at the beginning are public schoolboys. By the end of the 1950s they’re deferring.” – Richard Vinen 

• “The best week I ever had there was flying sea cadets round in a Tiger Moth, doing some aerobatics for them. A Tiger Moth is easy to fly, but difficult to fly well.” – Martin Stone 

• “It’s balls.” – Richard Vinen on the notion that men got to meet others from different social classes. 

Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Jade Bailey. Original music by Dubstar. Artwork by Jim Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Jam Tomorrow is a Podmasters production 

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