Portsmouth veteran remembers life during National Service as new campaign launched

Michael Wilkinson, 87, was born in Portsmouth and served in Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, and will now stand front and centre of a heritage campaign called National Service Remembered.

National Service came into force in 1949, and meant all men between the ages of 17 and 21 has to spend 18 months in the armed forces, before spending four years on the reserves list.

The scheme came to an end in 1960, but those who took part say it had a major impact on their lives.

This campaign, run by the not-for-profit organisation Same but Different, captures an important period of the country’s cultural history through the eyes of the men who served.

Michael worked as a radar mechanic in the Middle East during the Suez Crisis and believes the project, powered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, provides a valuable insight into a unique period of Britain’s past.

He said: ‘Working with the team from Same but Different on this project has been a totally positive experience.

‘It has brought back memories of happenings I have not thought about for many years.

‘This project has already influenced me. As a result of thinking about National Service, I put in quite a few RAF station names that I was familiar with.

‘There’s an awful lot of them on the internet and there are hundreds of photographs. I look back on it as being a very positive experience, particularly so as National Service ceased in the distant past.’

SEE ALSO: Sailors from Portsmouth drum up £3,200 in epic endurance test

Brian Blessed, Michael Caine and Anthony Hopkins were among some of the household names to serve.

Michael, who moved to Chester in 1970 but still has family in the Portsmouth area, served across the Middle East and formed a key part of British forces when the Suez Crisis dominated global headlines in the mid-1950s.

He added: ‘I think National Service was a very positive experience.

‘It wasn’t easy but I learnt a great deal. If kids today had to do National Service, I think it would be perfect.

‘Anything that provides discipline is great – but they would find it tough.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts at just £2 a month for the first two months.