THERE was an awful lot of laughter from some people in the ranks just before Monday’s Anzac Day parade in Bathurst.
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As diggers, school bands and community members waited outside Bathurst RSL Club to march in the parade, a group of Nashos (as they call themselves) were in high spirits.
The men, who are aged around 80, were among 227,000 young Australian men conscripted into National Service from 1951-59.
They were just 18 when their names were “drawn out of a hat” in 1954, Bathurst-born Tim Hector said.
Mr Hector and four other Bathurst men – Wallace Death, Neil Gale, Ted Hoolahan and Ted Green – were conscripted to start a compulsory 176 days of military training.
National Service legislation was brought in by then Prime Minister Robert Menzies, and was a compulsory call-up of males who turned 18 on or after November 1, 1950.
Despite the compulsory enlistment, none of the men considered themselves unlucky to have their name selected.
“We were really lucky because we were called in between wars,” Mr Hector said.
“But we were there in case we went to war. Everyone was keen to go. It was a great comradeship.”
Mr Death and Mr Hoolahan were drafted to the 19 Battalion, Mr Hector and Mr Gale to the 13 Battalion, and Mr Green to the 12 Battalion.
“In August 1954 I went in. It was great to be called,” Mr Death said.
“Most of us were pleased that we were called, [but] a lot didn’t want to go and made excuses,” Mr Hoolahan said.
While none of the men saw active service in Australia or overseas, they all fondly recall their time as a Nasho.
“We made friends for life,” Mr Hector said.
“We had a lot of fun,” Mr Gale added.
Mr Gale said many of the country’s youth would benefit from having the same conscripted service.
“It was a good thing. I think they should bring it back,” he said.
“Today a lot of young people are sitting around and doing nothing and they will learn a lot.”
Mr Hector agreed and said compulsory service would help guide young minds.
“Social problems would certainly be helped by National Service,” he said.
“There’s nothing wrong with a bit of discipline.”