The Bevin Boys: Britain's Forgotten Conscripts

In December 1943, facing a critical coal shortage that threatened Britain's war production, Minister of Labour Ernest Bevin introduced a scheme that would see one in ten conscripts directed to the coal mines rather than the military.

These young men, chosen by ballot, had no choice in the matter. Many had dreamed of joining the RAF or the Navy, only to find themselves sent down dark, dangerous mine shafts. They received minimal training — often just six weeks — before being put to work in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable.

The work was brutal: crawling through narrow seams, breathing coal dust, and facing the constant threat of roof collapse. Unlike military personnel, Bevin Boys received no campaign medals, no demobilisation benefits, and no public recognition. Many suffered long-term health problems from the dust.

It was not until 1995 that the government officially acknowledged their contribution, and a Bevin Boys Memorial was unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2013. The veterans' badge was finally issued in 2007, over sixty years after the war ended.