For hundreds of ordinary Britons, the call to arms just arrived by post

The prospect of war with Iraq loomed larger for Britain's 1,500 reservists this week when many began receiving compulsory mobilisation papers.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday that more than 500 call-up papers had been issued and more would be sent until the required number was reached.

A spokeswoman said: "We will be issuing more than 1,500 papers because we expect some appeals and some who are more than slightly below fitness to be exempt."

She added that the MoD was trying to give the reservists as much notice as possible to prevent personal inconvenience and allow employers time to find replacement staff.

The reservists will travel to central units in Portsmouth and Nottinghamshire as well as local stations for two days where final medical checks will be made and administrative issues such as salary and allowances dealt with.

They will then be sent on a two-week mobilisation course to receive trade-specific training before they are informed of postings.

While most posts will be in the Gulf, some will be in Gibraltar, Cyprus, Germany and Britain.

Keith Conway, 37, a manager with Scottish and Newcastle breweries in Edinburgh and a mine warfare officer with the Royal Naval Reserve, was making family and work plans to prepare for his absence. Lieutenant-Commander Conway said: "I am apprehensive but the call-up merely puts me in the same position as all those in the regular service who sailed on ships last week.

"There are not enough mine warfare officers to work around the clock if we are at war, so I knew there was a high chance I would be called, but it was still quite a shock."

While he was concerned about the future, Lt-Cdr Conway did not regret joining the navy reservists 20 years ago.

But he said one of the saddest aspects of his call-up would be missing the first birthday of his daughter Charlotte next month, as well as saying goodbye to his wife Gillian, and stepchildren Gordon, 12, and Jennifer, 10, before reporting for duty at Portsmouth next Friday. "It is difficult for the children. It is hard to know I will miss Charlotte's first birthday. But my wife, while obviously upset and worried that I have been called up, has been very supportive and says she and the children are proud of me," he said.

Meanwhile, Tom Burke, a 35-year-old website designer from Paisley, expressed his shock at receiving his papers this week, a decade after joining the Royal Marine Reserves.

Mr Burke said he joined the Marines in the hope it would bring adventure while allowing him to further his passion for mountain climbing. But he never dreamt he would be called up for possible operations in Iraq.

He recalled his sense of fear after being informed he was among the 130 Scottish reservists called up, and he had to break the news to his 10-year-old son, Sam, and his fiancée, Jenny, the mother of his eight-month-old son, Jaimes.

"Being called up was a real shock. I honestly didn't expect it and I have got a lot of running around to do sorting out my civilian life before I have to report for duty next week," he said.