Together with the Northam RSL sub-branch, the Nashos League of Western Australia will unveil and dedicate the memorial in front of the honour rolls outside the Memorial Hall in Fitzgerald Street.

The Nashos League of Western Australia was formed to establish a series of national service memorials throughout the Wheatbelt.

The first was at Wongan Hills in 2007, the second at Bruce Rock the same year, the third in Brookton in 2009 and the fourth in Cunderdin in 2010.

There were two national service schemes.

The first of these operated from 1951 to 1959 requiring every male turning 18 to register or either the Army, Navy or Air Force for basic military training.

All told, some 227,000 nashos in 52 intakes underwent approximately six months’ compulsory training, essentially for homeland duties, and then remained on call as reservists for a total period of five years.

The second and final scheme operated from 1965 to 1972.

This was for the Army only, when young men turning 20 were selected by a birthday ballot to undergo two years’ continuous training.

Approximately 63,000 nashos were involved in this compulsory call-up with a further 35,000 opting instead to do six years’ part-time training with the Citizens Military Force.

Of these intakes, some 17,500 conscripts were involved in active duty in Vietnam with the balance assigned to support duties in Australia, Malaysia, Borneo and Papua New Guinea.

More than 200 nashos were killed in action with nearly 1500 wounded.

League president Ed Freeman-Smith of Northam said national service played an important part in Australia’s contemporary history.

“Our time in military service was pivotal to the rest of our lives,” he said.

“We invite people to come to the memorial’s dedication next Tuesday.”