My late father was a Bevin Boy during WWII, and never spoke about it. My mother tells me they were told they would be treated like servicemen after the war, but of course they weren't; he was very bitter about it, especially as his two brothers were treated as heroes for their war service. From the Bevin Boys Association I found out that the govt destroyed all the official records in the early '50s, so there is no official record of where he was. I wondered if anyone in this group can shed any light for me as I would love to find out more. I bought and read the book Called Up, Sent Down which was saddening, and I would love to know if he was at one of the pits mentioned in the book. Thanks,
I had not encountered Bevin Boys before. For anyone else in the same position here is a link to a web site: http://www. bevinboysassociation.co.uk/
Have you had a look at this site Apricat.: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...qoCwDg&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1008&bih=664&dpr=1.25
My mother was very annoyed when she heard that former Land Army girls were being given medals. She made the very obvious point that those in the Land Army were not engaged in dangerous work (such as shell-filling) or expected to work in danger zones, unlike conscripted factory workers or indeed Bevin Boys. I think her comment was to the effect that the Land Army had been "given medals for picking turnips!" I think some civilian workers received the Defence Medal, but by no means all, while many were awarded the BEM or other medals for particular acts of bravery during the Blitz.
Just recently the last few remaining Bevin Boys were given meals, but not post-humously as there are no longer any official records of who they were.
Thanks for the link Ma-dotcom, I can only hope my father wasn't down the same pit as Jimmy Saville. Apart from him, they are lovely pictures and I shall look at them all thoroughly.
There are a couple of short, but interesting pieces on the National Archives blog about the Bevin Boys. You may have seen them, but if not they are at http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/bevin-boys/ and http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/bevin-boys-ii-searching-living-memories/ and another site called The Forgotten Conscript at theforgottenconscript.co.uk/ (put www in front) Ann
