I can tell you that my grandfather was drafted against his will, spend months on the run from it and when finally caught protested so much he was sent to the glasshouse military prison which tried to train him as a solider . This did not work so he was put into solitary confinement for ages . When released he waited until he got his hands on a bayonet with which he tried to kill the drill sergeant. Apparently chasing him for quite a distance cross country. War ended before it got any worse for him. His brother had been in the territorial army prior to war so got called up immediately. Spent most of war in Burma as a prisoner.

Years after war his family had to buy his medals as although they were awarded they were not actually awarded . Apparently Gypsies were good enough to serve but not good enough to get recognition.