A memorial to the sacrifice of men who completed National Service between the 1940s and 1960s was unveiled in Victoria Gardens by the Truro branch of the Royal British Legion. 

The brass plaque was delivered to Truro in September by Michael Homer, chairman of the National Service Veterans Alliance, as part of a “Plaque A Thon”. 

While there were previously only seven memorials to National Service veterans in the UK, Michael raised enough money for 60 plaques and pledged to visit 50 county towns in less than 150 hours by train. 

The plaque has since been mounted on Cornish granite and Michael was guest of honour at a moving ceremony on Saturday morning, during which the memorial was revealed - the second to be officially installed after Bristol, where Michael used to live. 

A procession included the Kernow Pipes and Drums, representatives from RNAS Culdrose and Devon and Cornwall Police, dignitaries from Truro and visiting mayors from other Cornish towns. 

A service was led by Canon Alan Bashforth of Truro Cathedral and Rev Andy Earl - padre and honorary president of Truro Royal British Legion and serving reservist. Bugler Gillian Allen played The Last Post and the Reveille, prompting some veterans to shed tears in memory of friends lost. 

Between the end of the Second World War and 1963, more than two-million men took part in National Service. Military resources were required for Britain to retain the Empire and contribute to the occupation of Germany and Japan, but low birth rates in the 1930s meant fewer young men were available. 

The 1947 National Service Act required all men aged 18 to 26 to serve in the Armed Forces for 18 months. This included conflicts during the Korean and Cold Wars; 395 men died in active service. 

Mr Homer served in Germany as an ambulance driver between 1958 and 1960.

A wheelchair user who lost his hearing and balance due to gunfire, he said: “Out of two million men did National Service, there aren’t many of us left, as we are all in our 80s and 90s. So I feel very happy to be doing this.”

John Cameron had travelled down from Portwrinkle, in south-east Cornwall, for the ceremony. Mr Cameron served his National Service in the Outer Hebrides, specialising in early warning radar.

“It was an experience. I made some good mates, and we made the most of it,” he recalled. 

His friend, 92-year-old Walter “Smudge” Smith, served at RAF Lyneham, playing cornet in the station band.

“Every 10 days or so, we would receive casualty evacuations from Korea,” he said, adding: “The sights we saw. And yet National Service has never been recognised, and we are dying off in numbers – hence the Plaque-athon.”

Rev Andy Earl reflected on how his father had completed national Service in Malaya.

“He protected us children by saying he had spent time in ‘the jungle’,” he said. “Having served around the world myself, I now know the reality of what that meant. 

“Today, like many of his age, Dad has dementia and isn’t well, so this ceremony was loaded with emotion for me. I’m eternally grateful to him and his colleagues, and this is a beautiful place for us to remember them. All credit to Michael for his campaign.”