Few people realise that in the aftermath of World War 2 Britain prepared for the possibility of another conflict with an aggressive nation. Young civilian men under 40 were conscripted to undertake two years of training, alongside regular recruits, in the basic arts of war. The author was conscripted after three years of exemption to allow him to complete his university education. These memoirs present a personal account of one man's personal experience of National Service, first in basic training in discipline, marching, rifle drill and personal hygiene. Then he underwent training as a radar operator in south-west England, followed by a first posting at Ludlow in Shropshire. Finally, Derek Torrington was demobilised after a last posting in the Eiffel mountains of Germany, where he had an interesting encounter with the local dentist, who was chairman of the local Gestapo during the war - the author is glad he spoke fluent German!