The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 ( 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 81) was enacted by the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...

on 3 September 1939, the day the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

declared war on Germany at the start of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. It superseded the Military Training Act 1939 ( 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 25) (enacted in May of that year) and enforced full conscription on all male British subjects between 18 and 41 who were present in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

, subject to certain exemptions. By a royal declaration in January 1941, the term Great Britain was extended to include the

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

.''

The London Gazette ''The London Gazette'', known generally as ''The Gazette'', is one of the official journals of record or government gazettes of the Government of the United Kingdom, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, i ...

'', 31 January 1941
p. 622
/ref> Despite the end of the war in September 1945, the Labour government kept the act in force until 1948, when its effects were continued in a modified form by the enactment of the

National Service Act 1948 The National Service Act 1948 ( 11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 64) was an Act of Parliament which extended the British conscription of the Second World War long after the war-time need for it had expired, in the form of "National Service". After a bill ...

( 11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 64).

Exemptions

*Medically unfit as well as the blind, disabled, and those with mental disorders *British subjects from outside Britain and the

who had lived in the country for less than two years *Students *Persons employed by the government of any country of the

British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...

except the United Kingdom *

Clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

of any denomination *Married women *Women who had one or more children 14 years old or younger living with them. This included their own children, legitimate or illegitimate, stepchildren, and adopted children, as long as the child was adopted before 18 December 1941. Pregnant women were liable to be called up but in practice were not. *

Conscientious objectors A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or freedom of religion, religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for ...

*People working in

reserved occupation A reserved occupation (also known as essential services) is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt or forbidden from military service. In a total war, such as the Second World War, ...

s like baking, farming, medicine, and engineering. *As the act applied only to those who were physically present in Great Britain and the Isle of Man, in effect all those living overseas were also exempt.

References

External links

* (Parliamentary documents on National Service) Conscription in the United Kingdom Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1939 1939 in military history United Kingdom military law Conscription law World War II legislation September 1939 in the United Kingdom {{UK-mil-stub

Exemptions

See also

References

External links