The 70th (Young Soldiers) Battalion was raised in late December 1940/early 1941 from volunteers who were mainly around the ages of 18 and 19 and, therefore, too young to be conscripted, the age of conscription being 20 at the time. Sometime after its birth, the battalion joined the 47th (London) Infantry Division, where it ""soon won an excellent reputation (it was said to be the best Young Soldiers' battalion in the country)"". The battalion remained in the United Kingdom throughout the war and was disbanded in August 1943, as were all such units.