Up to what age can you be drafted to go to war?
Up to what age can you be drafted to go to war?
Author
Discussion

GilbertGrape

Original Poster:

1,226 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Anyone know?

(I'm assuming it's probably about the same for all Commonwealth countries)



Edited by GilbertGrape on Tuesday 16th September 08:46

Shar2

2,273 posts

243 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
I think the maximum age is 45, at least it used to be.

Cara Van Man

29,977 posts

281 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
I'm not aware there is a max age as such.

Maybe 55.

I know the RAF reservist who was killed in Afghanistan was 51.

(I don't know him, just know of him)

Eric Mc

125,770 posts

295 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
There is no draft in the UK. National Service/Call Up was abolished 48 years ago.

I don't see it ever returning in any way - even in times of war (aren't we involved in wars at the moment and isn't there an Army manpower shortage as it is?)

Blib

48,217 posts

227 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
GilbertGrape said:
Anyone know?

(I'm assuming it's probably about the same for all Commonwealth countries)
Who do you fancy us invading?

Cara Van Man

29,977 posts

281 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
There is no draft in the UK. National Service/Call Up was abolished 48 years ago.

I don't see it ever returning in any way - even in times of war (aren't we involved in wars at the moment and isn't there an Army manpower shortage as it is?)
eeeer, reservists get called up.

MK4 Slowride

10,028 posts

238 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Depends how desparate the government is for troops.

Conscription was introduced in WW1 as there wasn't anyone daft enough to volunteer anymore. If no one joined up freely then I think the government would change it so people were made to join or go to prison for being a pussy.

It could happen again, who knows what the future holds.

phumy

5,828 posts

267 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
GilbertGrape said:
Anyone know?

(I'm assuming it's probably about the same for all Commonwealth countries)



Edited by GilbertGrape on Tuesday 16th September 08:46
Gilbert you are in NZ?

There is no conscription there and hasnt been since 1972, its all volunary now, you dont have to worry

SkinnyBoy

4,635 posts

288 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
MK4 Slowride said:
Depends how desparate the government is for troops.

Conscription was introduced in WW1 as there wasn't anyone daft enough to volunteer anymore. If no one joined up freely then I think the government would change it so people were made to join or go to prison for being a pussy.

It could happen again, who knows what the future holds.
Today we are a bit better informed are we not? I'd rather be a pussy in jail than fight a war based on lies.

esselte

14,626 posts

297 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Cara Van Man said:
Eric Mc said:
There is no draft in the UK. National Service/Call Up was abolished 48 years ago.

I don't see it ever returning in any way - even in times of war (aren't we involved in wars at the moment and isn't there an Army manpower shortage as it is?)
eeeer, reservists get called up.
Isn't that part of what they signed up for?...the clue is in the name "reservist"......

Maxf

8,444 posts

271 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
MK4 Slowride said:
Depends how desparate the government is for troops.

Conscription was introduced in WW1 as there wasn't anyone daft enough to volunteer anymore. If no one joined up freely then I think the government would change it so people were made to join or go to prison for being a pussy.

It could happen again, who knows what the future holds.
Best get in quick and volunteer if they start drafting so you don't end up in the DSS/Cannonfodder regiment

MK4 Slowride

10,028 posts

238 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
SkinnyBoy said:
MK4 Slowride said:
Depends how desparate the government is for troops.

Conscription was introduced in WW1 as there wasn't anyone daft enough to volunteer anymore. If no one joined up freely then I think the government would change it so people were made to join or go to prison for being a pussy.

It could happen again, who knows what the future holds.
Today we are a bit better informed are we not? I'd rather be a pussy in jail than fight a war based on lies.
Ok furrymuff.

Lets say this War based on a lie gets really out of hand and now presents a clear & present danger to both your country and country folk.

Surely thay is worth fighting & dying for regardless of how it started?



Maxf said:
MK4 Slowride said:
Depends how desparate the government is for troops.

Conscription was introduced in WW1 as there wasn't anyone daft enough to volunteer anymore. If no one joined up freely then I think the government would change it so people were made to join or go to prison for being a pussy.

It could happen again, who knows what the future holds.
Best get in quick and volunteer if they start drafting so you don't end up in the DSS/Cannonfodder regiment
You know me & my skillz Max.

54 kills for 18 deaths last night.

NO1.

Edited by MK4 Slowride on Tuesday 16th September 09:55

Wacky Racer

41,390 posts

277 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all

Eric Mc

125,770 posts

295 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
This is the original version of that poster - which is subtly different.



For the fist two years of WW1 there was no conscription. Therefore, men had to be persuaded to volunteer. This inspired a whole series of advertising campaigns and recruitment posters. Generally, there was no real problem initially as hundreds of thousands flocked to join up voluntarilly. However, that initial set of volunteers had been used up by 1916 so conscription was introduced - except for Ireland which remained on a voluntary call-up basis for the rest of the war (350,000 Irishmen joined up).

Conscription was slated to begin in Ireland at the end of 1918 but the war ended before it could be implemented. The threat of conscription into the British army was the final nail in the coffin regarding British rule in Ireland.


Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 16th September 10:00

mechsympathy

58,803 posts

285 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
esselte said:
Cara Van Man said:
Eric Mc said:
There is no draft in the UK. National Service/Call Up was abolished 48 years ago.

I don't see it ever returning in any way - even in times of war (aren't we involved in wars at the moment and isn't there an Army manpower shortage as it is?)
eeeer, reservists get called up.
Isn't that part of what they signed up for?...the clue is in the name "reservist"......
True, but I don't think most of those who joined the TA actually expected to be shipped off to Afghanistan for a stretch.

NiceCupOfTea

25,607 posts

281 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Isn't the text in the second poster grammatically incorrect - "Britons needs you"? Surely either "Britain needs you" or more likely "Britons need you"?

Interesting regarding Irish conscription - my wife's Irish grandfather joined the British army in WW2 (SBS in fact) and was alienated by his family frown

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

274 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Isn't the text in the second poster grammatically incorrect - "Britons needs you"? Surely either "Britain needs you" or more likely "Britons need you"?
I think you're supposed to pronounce the chap with the pointy finger 'Kitchener', thus...

BRITONS

Kitchener

Wants you.

Edited by Einion Yrth on Tuesday 16th September 10:43

MK4 Slowride

10,028 posts

238 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
What about all the text "God save the king". The king is more than content sat in Buckingham palace and isn't stood in 2ft of mud with people shooting at him all the while.

God save the mud cruncher.

Asterix

24,438 posts

258 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Not sure what the uper age is but when I left the Army I was on the reserves list for 12yrs. Thankfully that has passed now so I can't get involved in any of the governments phoney wars any more!

Eric Mc

125,770 posts

295 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
NiceCupOfTea said:
Isn't the text in the second poster grammatically incorrect - "Britons needs you"? Surely either "Britain needs you" or more likely "Britons need you"?

Interesting regarding Irish conscription - my wife's Irish grandfather joined the British army in WW2 (SBS in fact) and was alienated by his family frown
WW2 was a different kettle of fish compared to WW1 for the Irish. Eire was officially neutral but around 100,000 (there are no official figures) "Neutral" Irishmen joined up - including one of my cousins. Quite a few thousand Irishmen were in the British armed forces even before the war started.

Some Irish families didn't take too kindly to a relative joining up although the vast bulk took it as a fait accompli. The only advice given to Irishmen home on leave in Eire was not to wear their uniforms in public places.

Read up on the story of RAF ace Brendan "Paddy" Finucane to see how anti/pro-British contradictions could excist within the one family and how these contradictions were often easilly resolved.

As a matter of coincidence - Lord Kitchener himself was Irish (although from the Anglo-Irish aristocracy rather than peasant stock).


Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 16th September 11:21