In wartime, quite apart from simply being called up, boredom seems to be a big factor. My Grandfather, a teacher, moved Heaven and Earth to get in despite being judged unfit by the Board, fought all through the first war and survived (apart from a brief escape with piles! then finally made it to a commission. He had two children to bring up after his wife died, and had to live with her parents. The Rhondda back then was not all it is cracked up to be! My Uncle, who was killed on VE Day was stuck in a tax office. I won't come back to all that, he said, and he was as good as his word!