meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Duds Army: Why National Service won’t fix the young’uns

The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Podmasters

News, Government, Politics, Society & Culture

4.61K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2023

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s 60 years this month since National Service was abolished – but the idea remains popular. Could it ever work again, or is it just a pipe dream sustained by right-wing cranks? Jude Rogers is joined by Professor of History Richard Viven, author of National Service: Conscription in Britain 1945-1963, to explore the boredom, terror, and nostalgia of life under compulsory conscription.  “Military service was a bit like the workhouse for the poor, it was the last option.” “There was always more tedium over terror.”  “National Service is not meant to be a social service.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Jude Rogers. Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio editor: Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

My name is Stan. I'm at. Nice to meet you. So you took up photography where? I've always loved

0:05.5

photography but I turn it into earning a living at 60. I enrolled on a day course.

0:11.8

Well college. I loved going to college. It's good you can retry. I'm enrolled on the day course. But college?

0:13.0

I loved going to college.

0:14.0

It's good you can retrain and do something.

0:16.0

Yeah, yeah.

0:17.0

Let's talk about working, learning, saving and making the most of living longer.

0:22.0

Phoenix Group is the UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business.

0:28.0

Search Phoenix Group living longer.

0:30.0

Pets brings so much joy.

0:32.0

From those happy greetings at the door to the warm cuddles on the sofa

0:36.7

so give a little love back with dental life from Purina a range of delicious chues made for dogs and tasty snacks for cats that help clean and support your pets, teeth and gums, essential for their overall well-being and a happy, healthy life. They give you plenty of smiles so look after

0:55.9

theirs with dental life. Pick up dental life in the pet food aisle. Whenever Britain's young people are seen as troublesome menaces, there's one call certain right-wingers can rely on.

1:14.6

Bring back National Service!

1:16.6

Oh for those glorious days when all that was required sought out law and order and teenagers

1:21.9

expectations of themselves was 18 months of good old-fashioned military

1:26.2

training for all physically fit males between the ages of 17 and 21.

1:31.5

It's been 60 years this month since the last national servicemen and it was servicemen, left the army, but their memory is still potent to media pundits and members of the public.

1:42.0

The telegraphs Allison Pearson said of national service,

1:45.0

it would be a blessing to a generation of young people who are addicted to social media.

1:50.0

The Daily Express said it should be reintroduced in response to an incident of antisocial behavior.

1:55.0

And GB News recently held a debate about it.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Podmasters, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Podmasters and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.