What was the National Service Act 1948 (UK)?

Introduction The National Service Act 1948 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 with the same purpose had been approved in 1947, expected to be implemented 01 January 1949,… Read More

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What was the Military Training Act 1939 (UK)?

Introduction The Military Training Act 1939 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 26 May 1939, in a period of international tension that led to World War II. Outline The Act applied to males aged 20 and 21 years old who were to be called up for six… Read More

An Overview of Opposition to World War I

Introduction Opposition to World War I included socialist, anarchist, syndicalist, and Marxist groups on the left, as well as Christian pacifists, Canadian and Irish nationalists, women’s groups, intellectuals, and rural folk. The socialist movements had declared before the war their opposition to a war which they said could only mean workers killing each other in… Read More

What were Military Service Tribunals?

Introduction Military Service Tribunals were bodies formed by borough, urban district and rural district councils to hear applications for exemption from conscription into the British Army during the First World War. Background Although not strictly recruiting bodies, they played an important part in the process of conscription. Tribunals were published as part of the Derby… Read More

What was the Conscription Crisis of 1917?

Introduction The Conscription Crisis of 1917 (French: Crise de la conscription de 1917) was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I. It was mainly caused by disagreement on whether men should be conscripted to fight in the war, but also brought out many issues regarding relations between French Canadians and English… Read More

An Overview of Canada and the Vietnam War

Introduction The Vietnam War had considerable effects on Canada, but Canada and Canadians also affected the war. The Canadian government did not participate in the war. It contributed to peacekeeping forces in 1973 to help enforce the Paris Peace Accords. Privately, some Canadians contributed to the war effort. Canadian corporations sold war material to the… Read More

Who was Thomas W. Bennett?

Introduction Thomas William Bennett (07 April 1947 to 11 February 1969) was a United States Army medic who was killed in action during the Vietnam War and the second conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honour. Bennett received the medal after repeatedly putting himself in harm’s way to save wounded soldiers during operations in… Read More