Arboretum hosts commemoration of National Service

Crowds gathered at the arboretum on Tuesday afternoon

A commemoration has been held at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember all National Service veterans.

It was to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service, which began in 1947 after World War Two and ended in 1963.

During that time, more than two million men aged 17 to 21 were conscripted.

The Princess Royal attended the service of remembrance at the arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire, hosted by the actor Robert Powell.

The names of the 395 national servicemen killed during their service are inscribed upon the Armed Forces Memorial at the arboretum, which is also home to the National Service Memorial.

Peter Walker, a National Service veteran from Stoke-on-Trent, said the friendships were intense.

"I've never come across anything like it before or since and I've had some very good friendships," he said.

"I think it's because we're all in the same boat.

"None of us really volunteered - we were dragged in screaming."

Stone and floral tributes have been put in place to mark the occasion

Another veteran, Michael Homer from Birmingham, said he was an ambulance worker in the Army.

"It taught me respect. It taught me discipline and it taught me if you've got a job, you do the job and get stuck in - it's as simple as that and I loved it," he said.

Actor Robert Powell said nearly all those that fought in the war had now died.

"There are very few of them left so now we've got almost like the next generation up, those who were conscripted." he said.

The Royal British Legion organised the commemoration on Tuesday "to acknowledge the service and sacrifices" of that generation.

While National Service ended in 1960, those who deferred their service still needed to complete it and the last known national serviceman was discharged on 16 May 1963.

The Royal British Legion organised Tuesday's event