ALL AT SEA: DODGING NATIONAL SERVICE IN THE 1950’S.
‘Half the scum of England are going into the Merchant Navy to escape National Service’ (1) pronounced Judge Ewen Montagu, a hard-line Law Lord, way back in 1955.An ex-military officer, Montagu’s reactionary opinions seemed to reflect the nation’s mood of the day insofar as conscription was considered to be a duty. Anyway and to the point, arraigned in his court was a merchant seaman…