Conscription and reserved occupations

• • The Military Training Act of April 1939 made it compulsory for men aged between 20 and 22 to join the armed forces. In September 1939, the National Services Act made it compulsory for men aged between 18 and 41 to join. By the end of 1939 over 1.5 million men had been brought in to join the British armed forces.
• In 1938, a Schedule of Reserved Occupations' gave exemption from conscription to skilled workers in certain jobs. Around 5 million men of conscription age stayed at home and worked , including railway and dock workers, and farmers. Schoolteachers and doctors were also included. Workers in engineering industries were also exempted from conscription, as were those who worked as wardens in the ARP. Coalmining was not a reserved occupation but was later added.
• Many workers in reserved occupations received negative views from some people who thought they were hiding rather than taking part in the actual fighting.