Bevin Boys

[Karrie Cutlets]

My father was a Bevin boy & worked for 2 years in a mine in Wales. Unfortuntely I have no idea which mine he was in.

My Dad died 5 years ago, so its a bit difficult to ask him now!!! & he didnt really talk about it much.

Does anyone know how I can find out which mine he worked in?

Thanks in advance

Karen

[Jan1954]

Try contacting the Bevin Boys Association (http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum_gfx_en/AM28467.html) with your father's details and see if they are able to help.

Good luck!

[Astoria]

Had to google Bevin Boy, how interesting, moh had heard of them.
Jimmy Saville, famous D.J (you may be younger than me) was one.
AND Eric Morecambe believe it or not.

This will be a very interesting thread I am sure, lots of experts out there.

Astoria.

[Karrie Cutlets]

Thanks for that.

Unfortunately I do know who Jimmy Saville is.. now i am showing my age!!:

Bevin Boys were the only conscripted people that did not get a medal for their efforts in & after the war & until very recently were not allowed to march on Remembrance Sunday. Although I understand recently the more famous Bevin Boys have received a medal.

Although my father wanted to forget those 2 years of his life, it would be good to get a medal on his behalf to pass down to my children.

[salcat]

My father in law was also a Bevin Boy - ironic in his case as his family had been miners for several generations. He was the first in the family to go on to higher education, trained as a teacher then got called up only to be sent back down the pit! :(

As I understand it, all Bevin Boys are now entitled to a medal (well it's called the Bevin Boys Badge), but only if they are still alive to collect it. The only people who can claim a posthumous medal are widows of Bevin boys who died on or after 20.6.2007. Bit mean really, especially as it took so long to produce it.

Dad doesn't want his - I think I'll try to persuade him that his grandchildren and successors would appreciate having it.

regs

Sally

[Peter Goodey]

There's an article on Bevin Boys, including how to research them, in the current (July) edition of Ancestors magazine - you may like to check in your newsagent.

[salcat]

Website with full details, and application form for the badge.

http://www.veterans-uk.info/bevin_boys/bevin_boys.html

They are calling it a survivors badge, which is why it's not available to deceased Bevin boys.

[Karrie Cutlets]

I think its disgraceful that my father or family cant get the award. My mother died 3 months after my father in 2003, so she wont be claiming it on his behalf either.

It makes me annoyed as he always suffered with bad lungs & was convinced it was caused by his time down the mines.

My father wouldnt have bothered either Sally, he had wiped almost the whole experience from his memory

[salcat]

Karrie, I agree. I think the Bevin Boys were treated dreadfully, both during and after their service, which went un-acknowledged for so long.

[Astoria]

I have looked at the links supplied on this thread and I can't believe how difficult it is to get recognition for the work these people did, sometimes no more than children, I believe. You should be very proud of your Dad Karrie it must have been hell.

Astoria

[Mutley]

My uncle was a Bevan boy also, sadly he has died, a batchelor without children. Guess he won't get a medal either.:(

[Karrie Cutlets]

I am very proud of my Dad, Astoria... i just dont think he thought anyone cared.. & im beginning to think he may have been right

Maybe we should start a campaign Mutley... for all the people that deserved the recognition but never got it..

[Ingeryl]

this can be very sensitive for some. During the war, if you were young ( over 18)
and not in uniform you had to undergo a lot of snide remarks. My own experience was
that I volunteered for the royal navy rather than wait to be called up for the
army. At the time I was working in a large heavy engineering works in Birmingham,
as an arc welder (Bailey Bridges). The powers that be decided I was more use doing
this than in the forces, and I was still welding up the bridge parts when the war
ended. In the end instead of saying I was in a reserved occupation I just told
people I had been rejected on medical grounds.This was a bit of a fib, because I am
now 84 and unlike most in my age group I take no medication at all!
Tom