Britain’s top general has suggested conscription could return if war breaks out (Picture: PA)
Britain’s top military brass this week suggested that civilians may be conscripted to join the armed forces in the event that a war breaks out with Russia.
In a speech yesterday, General Sir Patrick Sanders said the UK was woefully underequipped to fight an all-out war, and said the government may need to ‘mobilise the nation’ and start training a civilian army.
The General previously claimed Britain was facing a ‘1937 moment’- referring to the two years preceding the Second World War.
In his speech, Sir Patrick said Britain ‘must be able to credibly fight and win wars on land’, and could not rely on its navy and air power for success.
General Sir Patrick Sanders warned ministers they may need to ‘mobilise the nation’ in the event of war (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘We need an Army designed to expand rapidly to enable the first echelon, resource the second echelon and train and equip the citizen army that must follow.
‘Within the next three years, it must be credible to talk of a British Army of 120,000, folding in our reserve and strategic reserve. But this is not enough.’
His words echo those of Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who said in a speech last week that the world is ‘moving from a post-war to pre-war world’ and the UK must ensure its ‘entire defence ecosystem is ready’ to defend its homeland.
Although the government has since denied planning to conscript the public, they have not denied planning for war.
Mandatory military service was introduced during the First World War under the Military Service Act of 1916.
The National Service (Armed Forces) Act followed in 1939 on the day Britain declared war on Germany at the outbreak of the Second World War.
The act required all fighting age men aged between 18 and 41 to join up.
But even during World War II there were a number of people and professions who were exempt from the draft, and in the event of a hypothetical WW3 scenario the same would likely apply. Here is an overview of those who would be exempt from National Service:
There are a number of people and professions exempt from serving in the armed forces (Picture: MOD)
What age range is exempt from conscription?
During the first round of conscription in World War I, single men aged 16 to 40 years old were called up for military service unless they were ministers of a religion or single parents.
The law was later changed to include married men and the age limit was raised to 51.
A second period of conscription happened between the Second World War until 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963.
During this period, initially only single men aged between 20 and 22 were liable to be called up to become ‘militiamen’.
However, as the war escalated, it was first changed to all men aged 18 to 41, then to men between the ages of 18 and 51.
After 1945, the National Service Act 1948 brought in peacetime conscription. New changes meant males aged 17 to 21 were required to serve in the armed forces for 18 months and remain on the reserve list for four years.
During the Korean War in 1950, the service period was extended to two years. To compensate for the longer service, the reserve period was decreased by six months.
Conscription was mandatory during the Second World War (Picture: REXMAILPIX)
Which professions are exempt from serving?
Although the National Service Act in 1939 made it compulsory for all males aged 18 to 41 to register for service, a number of people in key professions were exempt from service.
These exemptions included those who were medically unfit to fight, and some people who worked in key industries vital to keep the country running.
At the time, those professions included baking, farming, medicine, coal mining and engineering.
During World War I, exemptions were also granted to clergymen, teachers, certain types of industrial workers and the medically unfit.
Both conflicts also saw around 16,000 ‘Conscientious Objectors’ refuse to enlist in the armed forces, which saw many of them jailed after facing a tribunal at which they would be expected to justify their opposition to enlisting.
People with certain medical conditions are exempt from service (Picture: Getty)
Which medical conditions prevent you from enlisting?
There are currently a vast number of medical conditions which prevent someone from joining the British Armed Forces.
Anyone suffering from deprivation of the senses, such as hearing and vision problems, is forbidden to enlist.
People with bone or joint problems are also exempt. This includes chronic knee injuries, people with a history of bone fractures, shoulder problems and hypermobility syndrome. Clubfoot also prevents you from serving.
Psychiatric problems, neurological conditions, severe skin conditions and cardiovascular issues can also prevent people from enlisting.
The government says it has no plans to enforce conscription (Picture: US ARMY / SWNS)
Could women get drafted in the UK?
Although it is unlikely that conscription will be enforced in the UK – it is possible that women could get drafted, too.
In World War Two, single women aged 20 to 30 years old who did not have young children were called up to help on the home front as mechanics, engineers, air raid wardens, bus drivers, farmers, and more.
Despite many showing interest in serving on the battlefield, British women were not permitted to fight on the front lines.
However, attitudes towards sexism and how society views gender have changed drastically in the decades following the end of the war.
Since 2018, they have been able to serve in all combat roles alongside male counterparts.
This means that, if conscription ever becomes necessary, women will likely be drafted at the same rate as men.