I REFER to the letter by Steve Jones (Oxford Mail, June 24) when he writes about the army challenge for schools which was taking place in Bicester at the time.

He states that he is not in favour of bringing back conscription (neither am I) but I must take issue with his comment about “reluctant second-rate” recruits filling the ranks.

I was a three-year regular soldier who was later commissioned. The National Servicemen (conscripts) who I served with alongside were second to none. They certainly knocked spots off most of their regular colleagues.

They provided not only officers but most of the corporals and lance corporals and even sergeants.

National Servicemen served in two wars, Korea and Suez 1956, as well as campaigns in the Canal zone (Egypt), Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus and the Arabian Peninsular.

One famous NS man was Sir Michael Caine in Korea and Ronnie Corbett was an officer in the RAF, having appealed at his medical to be allowed to join.

I will conclude by saying that National Service was at a time when it was needed. By 1962 it was not longer required and was phased out.

Give me, Mr Jones, ‘reluctant second-rate recruits’ – they were the salt of the earth.

DAVID YOUD Barlow Close Wheatley