From Dr George Marshall Sir: As a former National Serviceman
(1955-57) I found in Charles Wheeler's account a description of a world that I fail to recognise. We recruits were shouted at, it is true, and during the first few weeks we had to run around a lot, but the professional NCOs who tried to turn us into soldiers were, with few exceptions, among the most decent people I have encountered in my lifetime. They cared about their work, and they cared that we amateurs should reach reasonable standards in what was, after all, their profession.
I recall being especially grateful, as a shy and slightly weakly young man, that my PT instructors were far more patient with my lack of ability in their subject than the gym teacher I had suffered under at school. The only thing that shocked me at the outset was the foul language of my fellow recruits, though one got used to that. (NCOs rarely swore, but they often had a real gift for vivid use of the language.) Of course there were boring times, as there are in any job; but National Service is a part of my education that I would not will- ingly have missed. There must be many oth- ers who feel the same.
George Marshall
Bollington, Cheshire
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