" The Bevin Boys were a group of young men in the UK during World War II who were conscripted not to fight on the front lines, but to work in the coal mines. This all started in 1943 when Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour and National Service, realized that Britain was facing a massive coal shortage. Coal was essential for keeping the war machine running-factories, railways, and even the military needed it. So, instead of sending all these young men to the battlefield, about 10% of conscripts were sent underground to keep the country powered. In total, around 48,000 men became Bevin Boys, making up that 10% of conscripts. The program ran from 1943 until the end of the war in 1945, and the last Bevin Boys weren’t released from service until 1948-three years after the war had officially ended. These guys didn’t have much of a choice; they were randomly selected, often by a lottery system, so one day you could be training to fight, and the next day you were handed a pickaxe and a helmet. Public opinion about the Bevin Boys was mixed. Some people saw them as slackers who had dodged the front lines, while others recognized how crucial their work was. The truth is, they didn’t get the same recognition as soldiers, and many felt forgotten and overlooked. If someone refused to become a Bevin Boy, they could be charged with desertion or insubordination, which carried serious penalties, including imprisonment. It wasn’t until 1995 that the Bevin Boys were formally recognized for their contributions. For decades, their work went largely unacknowledged, but eventually, they were honored with a commemorative badge, giving them some long-overdue recognition for the vital role they played during the war. " facebook.com/share/p/ZccqyokSiaoHF1tr/?mibextid=oFDknk
" The Bevin Boys were a group of young men in the UK during World War II who were conscripted not to fight on the front lines, but to work in the coal mines. This all started in 1943 when Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour and National Service, realized that Britain was facing a massive coal shortage. Coal was essential for keeping the war machine running-factories, railways, and even the military needed it. So, instead of sending all these young men to the battlefield, about 10% of conscripts were sent underground to keep the country powered.
In total, around 48,000 men became Bevin Boys, making up that 10% of conscripts. The program ran from 1943 until the end of the war in 1945, and the last Bevin Boys weren’t released from service until 1948-three years after the war had officially ended. These guys didn’t have much of a choice; they were randomly selected, often by a lottery system, so one day you could be training to fight, and the next day you were handed a pickaxe and a helmet.
Public opinion about the Bevin Boys was mixed. Some people saw them as slackers who had dodged the front lines, while others recognized how crucial their work was. The truth is, they didn’t get the same recognition as soldiers, and many felt forgotten and overlooked. If someone refused to become a Bevin Boy, they could be charged with desertion or insubordination, which carried serious penalties, including imprisonment.
It wasn’t until 1995 that the Bevin Boys were formally recognized for their contributions. For decades, their work went largely unacknowledged, but eventually, they were honored with a commemorative badge, giving them some long-overdue recognition for the vital role they played during the war. "
facebook.com/share/p/ZccqyokSiaoHF1tr/?mibextid=oFDknk
Very insightful and exciting hearing the experience of a coal miner from the coal miner himself from those times.