Royal British Legion wants your help to find 'unsung heroes' of National Service

A military charity has launched a campaign to help find 'unsung heroes' who completed National Service ahead of the 60th anniversary of the end of the programme.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) is launching the AskDad and AskGrandad campaign, calling on families to help reveal lost stories from those who served between 1947 and 1963.

Up to two million men were enlisted as National Service conscripts and it is thought that tens of thousands of them could still be alive today. 

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Philippa Rawlinson, director of remembrance at the RBL, said: "We're appealing to the great British public to AskDad or AskGrandad to help us find more of our unsung National Service heroes, especially those who may have played down their contribution and not really talked about it with their families.

"We know that everyone's experience of National Service was different, from those who found it incredibly rewarding to those who from the very first day couldn't wait to be demobbed, but we're eager to celebrate the invaluable contributions of everyone who served."

The late Nigel Lawson, Chancellor to Margaret Thatcher, who has died at the age of 91, is among those who began his working life carrying out National Service as a Royal Navy officer.

He served two years of National Service in the Royal Navy where, despite criticism for scruffiness and arrogance, he was sufficiently well-regarded to be given charge of a motor torpedo boat, the Gay Charger.

Ms Rawlinson added: "While the youngest conscripts will now be in their 80s, it's estimated that hundreds of thousands of National Service veterans are still alive today, and we'd like as many of these veterans and their families as possible to join us at Remembering National Service – 60 years on, in May."

Actors Michael Caine and Tom Baker, along with the politician Michael Heseltine, are among former National Service veterans who have commented on their service in their autobiographies.

This RBL campaign has been launched ahead of forthcoming commemorations to mark the 60th anniversary since the last serviceman was demobbed from National Service on 16 May 1963.

Most National Servicemen served in Britain but tens of thousands were also stationed worldwide, mainly in Germany but also Austria, Gibraltar, Cyrus, Egypt, Libya, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Nigeria, Kenya and Belize. Initially, National Service lasted 18 months, but in 1950, during the Korean War, this was increased to two years.

All National Service veterans and their families are being invited to participate in Remembering National Service – 60 years on, a commemorative event to be held on 16 May at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to acknowledge the contribution of those who served during this period.

National Service veterans, bereaved families, and descendants can register on the RBL website to attend – applications close on Monday 24 April.