National Servicemen talk about their conscription
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Between 1964 and 1972 most 20-year-old men had to register for National Service.
Potential conscripts, better known as ‘Nashos’, were selected by a birthday lottery, where wooden marbles drawn from a barrel matched a secretly maintained birthday list.
The prize? Two years of full-time service in the Australian Army.
My father has a sticker on the back of his ute 'Proud to be a Nasho'. He didn't serve overseas or see combat, but he worked tirelessly for other Vets as a Secretary of his local sub-branch of the RSL for 20 yrs. Particularly with the Department of Vets Affairs. He was later honoured for his efforts with Life Membership. He's 84 this year and still raises & lowers the flags on Anzac Day.
National servicemen were no less soldiers than the regs, it's just that they tend to be forgotten. I, for one, honour their service & hope that they get the recognition that they rightly deserve.
Thanks to all who served in "Nashos", my dad did his stint, and I joined the Army because I felt like I should have. Proud of all of you.
Good on you blokes . Doesnt matter what capacity you served in we are all Brothers in Arms we are all part of the green machine. Always hold your head high.
Struth guys................volunteer or not.....we all did our bit for Oz. Thanks for being with us when demand was asked...Cheers.
GRATATUDE AND RESPECTS 🙏 2 ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. FORMER GUNNER. 1991 TILL 1994. HOME SOLDIER.
These men should be proud of their service. Anyone who serves selflessly for their country should be honoured and never forgotten.
Something that should still be active today
As a young Lt in the Reserve the following changed my view on life - an Australian Army General once pulled me aside and said ( not verbatim but close enough ) - it does not matter if you served overseas - you wear the uniform and took the oath - be proud of your service - one day we may be all called upon to defend the country we love - every contribution counts 💪💪💪
You would have to be completely nuts to take anything from these guy's.
Each and everyone of them became first-class soldiers. And fantastically bloody good ambassadors for our country.
I dips my lid to all.
LEST WE FORGET
I was too young but I had older work colleagues who did Nasho.
One became a steward in the Officers Mess in Singapore.
Another one deferred his Uni studies and went in, and finished up in the Survey Corps travelling around Australia.
Both enjoyed their time.
July 1968 got called up,my elder brother said who was already called up,avoid the army at all cost,so I enlisted in RAAF thinking not go overseas,but after 3 months basic training,become ADG at Amberley 6 months later posted to Vietnam,bit back fire but finished two tours, then posted back to East Sale what we called easy street, volunteer for Bass Straight fishing patrols as observer looking for illegal fishing boats good number.Was good 6 years.
I am a proud Nasho, I was deferred for a couple of years to complete my apprenticeship and went to Kapooka in the 1st intake of 1970, 10 platoon A wing and did our training and we had 2 breaks as we finished before Easter and marched out later, we had a break at Holsworthy then to Studley Park before going to Balcombe for Corp training in Sigs then was sent to 133 Sig Sqn at Kingswood NSW and I enjoyed my time and still think it would do the world of good for all 18 to 20 year olds to learn some self discipline
I was called up. In my time in the Army, I never met anyone with my birthday. It was 30+ years later I watched Normie Rowe doing an interview, he said they had a “Special” ballot for some people! I enrolled for National Service while working overseas and apparently if you were overseas they put you in the “Special” ballot. I ended up in Vietnam and didn’t resent it, but when I found I had been in a “Special” ballot, I knew I’d been cheated.
Good on you lads. You did your duty.
My Dad (6RAR both tours) always said they were just the same as a regular, head down and arse up and got on with it.
As an ex nasho I would agree with all that was said by those blokes
I missed out in 1966 due to birthdate not being drawn
I was all gungho at the time
But looking back im glad i
Missed out!
What is the third medal some people are wearing , for what service is it awarded?
It's the Australian Service Medal 1945-75.
It has a number of eligibility requirements which are identified by a bar attached to the award.
The bar usually identifies the area of service the participant served.
Certa Cito Mick
Btw, I threw away the medals, don’t March, don’t wave the flag. At the end of my service, the Army just threw me away, no thanks from them, no “how are you” no “what are you going to do now”.
I remember a Postmaster telling me about his Pommie overlord.
" The Australian Army is the British Army. "
" The Australian Army is crap."
The Postmaster hated his guts.😂