A bill with the same purpose had been approved in 1947, and was due to take effect on 1 January 1949. The new legislation was prompted by the Cold War and the Malayan Emergency, and was approved only days before the 1947 arrangements came into force.
Healthy males aged between 17 and 21 (inclusive) were expected to serve in the armed forces for 18 months, and remain on the reserve list for four years. They could be recalled to their units for up to 20 days on no more than three occasions during these four years.
© Haydn Thompson 2017