Conscripts can be some of the most effective troops also. In some instances, they've not received enough training to know a hopeless situation when they see on so keep on fighting. Later, after the dust settles, they're still sitting in place, the enemy dead piled up all around them....
Japan's advance over the Kokoda track in Papua New Ginea in 1942 was met in the intial weeks by only an extremely poorly trained militia battalion. Facing them were over 10,000 of Japan's soldiers.
In WWII the Australian militia weren't even supposed to be outside Australia - New Guinea however was at the time under Australian administration, so the rules were bent and the division was sent. Initially they were used solely for construction works and not given any time for training. After reports of Japanese landings on the northern coastline however, they were the only unit in position to do anything about them.
If they'd not held, it's almost certain Port Moresby would have fallen, and a fair bet Australia would have suffered invasion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39th_Ba...)#Kokoda_Track
While not exactly factual, this movie is definately worth watching. It's a fairly accurate depiction of just how bad the conditions were (although the actual duration of the fighting withdrawal across the mountains was MUCH longer and tougher).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda_(film)