15 April 2026Admin1 min read
In December 1943, faced with a critical shortage of coal miners, Minister of Labour Ernest Bevin introduced a scheme that would send one in ten conscripted men to work in the coal mines instead of the armed forces. The selection was made by ballot — the last digit of each man's National Service registration number determined his fate.
Down the Mines
For young men who had expected to join the Army, Navy, or RAF, being sent down a coal mine was a shock. Many had never been underground before. The work was gruelling, dangerous, and carried none of the glamour or camaraderie associated with military service. Conditions were cramped, dark, and dusty, with constant risk of roof collapse, gas explosions, and flooding.
No Recognition
After the war, Bevin Boys received no demobilisation leave, no campaign medal, and no official recognition. Many were met with suspicion or hostility when they returned home — neighbours and colleagues assumed they had dodged military service. It was not until 1995 that they were mentioned in the Queen's VE Day speech, and not until 2007 that they received an official commemorative badge.
Legacy
Approximately 48,000 men served as Bevin Boys between 1943 and 1948. Their contribution to the war effort — keeping the nation's power stations, factories, and railways running — was essential but invisible. Today, fewer than 1,000 Bevin Boys survive.
