The day of our army draft came and about a hundred of us reported to the barracks where we were herded into a huge hanger, each of us carrying a nearly empty suitcase containing some personal effects that the Army had told us that we could bring. We were lined up in alphabetical order inside the southern side of the hanger. Along the western side was a row of large trestle tables and along the northern side (opposite where we were standing) were various medical stations and the last three of these had examination tables. The eastern side had rows of uniforms, shirts etc and shelves of boots and soft clothing and other army kit behind a row of trestle tables (I shall call this area 'the store'). The middle of the hanger was clear. There were uniformed soldiers everywhere, from privates to sergeants, female nurses in white and three doctors in white coats. I felt sorry for the recruits at the the head of the line as they did not know what to expect.
The first four recruits were called to the western tables where a sergeant for each got them to open their cases on the table and proceeded to sort out the items that they could keep. A private then supplied a small canvas draw bag each and these items were then secured in the bag and labelled, later to be transferred to the store. The four then had to strip completely, underwear as well, and all their clothing was placed in their suitcases which were sealed and labelled. Other soldiers took the cases to the centre of the hanger.
One by one the naked recruits went to a med station staffed by a nurse, where the were weighed then on to a station where their height was measured (a soldier with a clip board noted all their measurements at each station) and at the next they had their neck, chest, waist and inside leg measurements taken (you were allowed to hold your own privates to one side for the tape!. These measurements were then taken by other soldiers to the store so that the right size uniforms etc were brought out in readiness for fitting when the recruits had finished the medicals). The eye tests, blood pressure etc followed and then the doctor's examinations took place. There were no screens or partitions anywhere in the hanger. No privacy.
In the meantime, more recruits were undressing at the first base and others getting ready for the weighing and measuring section. Us guys at the back of the queue were of course intrigued by what was going on but then we realised that we would be doing the same soon. There was a cross section of all types of guys, big guys with small genitalia, small guys with big ones and all sizes between. One chap who was my build about 5' 9" and 145 lbs, we will refer to him as 'bigboy' for reasons other than his stature (he features a few times later). Most of us were born in the early 1940's during WW2 and were British born or of British parentage and about 80% of us were circumcised.
The doctors were very thorough and nothing was overlooked. Skin was searched for evidence of skin cancer, feet for verucas and athletes foot, anus for haemorrhoids, DRE, foreskins pulled back and health advice given to those that needed it, testicles felt for testicular cancer and groin and abdomen for hernias. The uncircumcised chaps all looked very embarrassed during the foreskin check and 'big boy had his foreskin looked at by two of the doctors for some time.
It was then on to the store to be kitted out with uniforms etc and kit bags to carry everything. Still naked, the clothes had to be tried on to make sure they fitted but eventually the clothed recruits went with their kit bag and little draw bag with their personal possessions (from the first station) and joined the back of the queue of the recruits who were still to experience what they had been through - a complete circle. The whole operation was skillfully planned and we all got to see our fellow recruits in naked and embarrassing situations! When all had been processed we were 'marched' off to our platoon barracks leaving our civilian life in our suitcases which were neatly stacked in rows in the middle of the hanger.
Incidentally, I was informed by the doctor who examined me that my lower back problem would be investigated the next day. Something to look forward to?
The next day twelve of us were called out of ranks after breakfast, three of us from my platoon, including 'bigboy' and we were marched to the camp hospital. Just off the main entrance was a dead end corridor but with a door in each side wall. We were herded through the door on the left which was a changing room and instructed to strip naked and then form up outside. We stood against the wall opposite the changing room almost in terror - we were not allowed to speak either.
One at a time we were called through the door on the right and each time one came out, the embarrassment on the face was plain to see. They had to stand back in line still naked.
'Bigboy' went in before me and when he came out he had a semi erection with a very tight foreskin retracted and a very red glans. He wasted no time in going to the changing room where he stayed for a while before coming back to join us looking a bit more normal with his foreskin back in place. My turn came to enter the room. Straight ahead were two doctors in white coats and to the right an examination table with the feet end pointing to the middle of the room.
The left side of the room was filled with tiered seating, about five rows, and sitting on those seats were the uniformed Officers and Nco's of the Company! The Company Major down to the Sergeants, Corporals and Lance Corporals, about 15 in all. Anyway I was not allowed to dwell on this situation as the doctor was asking me questions about my back and the treatment that I had had in the past and then gave me a thorough back exam, both standing and then lying on the table. My back was bent in all directions and my legs were placed at funny angles and sometimes the other doctor would assist or comment. Eventually they decided that I was fit enough to stay in the army but the Officers were to note my possible problems in the future.
The final indignation was caused by his helpfulness - he got me to stand on all fours (doggy fashion) on the table with my legs apart within the width of the table and with my feet just over the edge of the table and with my bottom facing the Officers. He told me to let my back sag, as if I had a weight on it. Then he got me to fall back on to my heels to cause my back to stretch - this of course gave the spectators a wonderful view of my open buttocks and my testicles and penis hanging between my feet. This exercise I was to do every morning and whenever neccessary. I still do it to this day but without spectators!!!
I went back to my place in the corridor and when all of us had been through the experience we were allowed to get dressed except for three guys, including 'bigboy', who were all called back into the room, still naked. We did not see 'bigboy' for nearly a week and when he came back he was sporting a circumcised penis -he seemed pleased as his very tight foreskin had been a major problem apparently.
The army in those days used to give us Bromide in our food and drink to stop us getting erections for the first four weeks and when they stopped 'bigboy' was one of the first to have a morning erection and he was so happy that he paraded up and down the barrack room with his magnificent throbbing cock before going for a shower!!!!
For those men who were subject to military recruitment during the 1950/60s, I have just read a book that refers to most of what I have already related but one thing that did slip my memory was the name 'Bluestone', which was the common name for Bromide. The taste of bromide laced tea/coffee for those first few weeks remains with me to this day!