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  1. #1
    thewideeyedowl
    Guest

    Default Betteshanger Colliery and Bevin Boys

    My late father-in-law was a Bevin Boy. He lived on the Isle of Wight and was sent to Betteshanger Colliery in Kent. I understand that he was an 'optant', as opposed to a conscript or volunteer; alas, non-uniformed service personnel were not highly regarded (understatement!) and were often considered to be 'conchies'i.e. Conscientious objectors.

    He was born in 1909, so by the time he received his call-up papers in 1942 or 1943, he was 33 or 34 years old. He was a widower with a young son, who was just four years old. So, when given the choice of the navy or the mines, he chose the mines - he did not want to be posted abroad, it was as simple as that. His sister looked after his young son. But, I have been told, he did not work underground - because of age(?) or possibly health(?). I just do not know, and family members who could tell me more are now all long gone. So these are my questions:
    1. Where can I find more info about 'optants'?l
    2. Are there lists of mining personnel, all roles, who worked at Betteshanger during WW2?
    3. Who owned the Betteshanger Colliery at the time? If I could find this name, I might be able to do a bit of research.

    I have been searching the catalogues at TNA, but cannot find anything relevant. The Bevin Boys Association, which has a very interesting website, concentrates - understandably - on those who worked underground.

    Help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    The Wideeyed Owl

  2. #2
    Name well known on Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,594

    Default

    Any of these sites may offer a clue or a google to bring up more .

    https://www.
    movetheminer.org/betteshanger-colliery-kent-coal-mine.shtml

    https://www.
    e.volve.org.uk/directoryitem.aspx?index=660&item=2867&dataitem=32 11

    https://
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bevin_Boys
    Happy Families
    Wendy
    Count your Blessings, they'll all add up in the end.

  3. #3
    thewideeyedowl
    Guest

    Default More potentially useful links

    Hi Waitabit

    Many many thanks for doing some searching on my behalf. The Kent 'Move the Miner' site is very interesting.

    I have since found that there are in fact two websites devoted to the Bevin Boys - the one billed 'The Official Bevin Boys Association' (which was new to me) and another run through the Senior Network. (If you do a search for the term 'Bevin Boys Association' they will, most likely, both come up.)


    Have just found this interesting and informative site: https://www.healeyhero.co.uk/. It's quite colourful and, when I have read more, I might contact them.

    The official documentation relating to the BBs is held at the Imperial War Museum, and is not available online. () I found this out through DANGO [Database of Archives of Non-Government Organisations] and there is a summery here: https://www.dango.bham.ac.uk/record_d...ecordType=coll

    So, I have perhaps made an inch or so of progress...will let you know if I actually manage to find the answers to the questions I posed yesterday evening.

    The Wideeyed Owl

  4. #4
    thewideeyedowl
    Guest

    Default Spelling mistake

    Oops ... above should have read 'a summary here' (in the DANGO para). Pure co-incidence that it was typed in summery weather. Wasn't paying attention.

    The Wideeyed Owl

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