'Soldiers of the 60s', 1960 (c)

Colour photolithograph recruiting poster published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Printed by Waterlow and Sons Limited, 1960 (c).

The Suez Crisis of 1956 and the subsequent Defence Review of 1957 forced the British government to re-assess their use of the armed services. Britain was no longer a world superpower. Troops were not needed to maintain an overseas empire. The new nuclear threat had to be met with a nuclear deterrent, and rendered a large defence force ineffective. This spelt the end for National Service in 1963. Focus shifted away from a conscript garrison army to the recruitment of professional soldiers to serve in a rapid deployment force with modern weapons and equipment.