National Service

Richard Vinen will unpick the myths of the two 'gap years', which all British men who came of age between 1945 and the early 1960s had to fill with National Service.

Important for military reasons, National Service also had a huge impact on British society. Richard will demonstrate how changes from the introduction of comprehensive education to the legalisation of homosexuality owed something to National Service. He will also look at the effects it had on the men (almost 2 million of them) who served.

Richard Vinen is Professor of History at King's College London. His book, 'National Service', published by Penguin, won the Templer Medal and the Wolfson History Prize.

Entry to Daytime Talks is free. However, places must be reserved in advance by contacting the customer services team on 020 7730 0717.