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Formation of Bevin Boys Association
The Bevin Boys Association was formed in 1989 with a small
membership of 32 in the Midlands area. Today the membership has grown to
over 2,000 from all over the United Kingdom and Overseas. It is
encouraging that we are surfacing at last.
Two Annual National Reunions are held in the Spring and Autumn,
consisting of three or four day events. Regional Reunions, normally one
day events are organised by Area Representatives, covering all parts of
the country.
Parades and Galas are also now part of our annual programme with the
Sunday Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph in London a highlight of the
year.
Recognition of Bevin Boys
Recognition has been a big problem for the past fifty years as we never
received any medals, until 1995 when we first gained recognition in the
VE & VJ Day 50th Anniversary Commemorations. In March 2000 a Home Front
Memorial was unveiled by H. M. The Queen in the grounds of the old
Coventry Cathedral which was dedicated to all those who served during
WW2 in service for their country which included the Bevin Boys.
We have our own Bevin Boys Association Banner which is proudly displayed
on Parades and Special Occasions.
Our membership fee is a one off life membership donation of only £10,
there is no annual subscription. Members receive a membership card and
enamel badge in addition to the twice annual "Newsletter".
We also have our own Association Tie (Navy or Maroon), Blazer Badge,
Commemorative Plate (showing all the thirteen Government Training
Centres) through which every Bevin Boy would have passed. Also there is
a stock of a wide range of books on the subject written by our members.
The Imperial War Museum has now become the home for the preservation of
Bevin Boy records, documents and photographs of which duplicate sets are
held by Warwick Taylor, the Bevin Boys Association Official Archivist.
There is a main committee holding meetings four times a year normally in
central England for accessibility of committee members.
The Annual General Meeting is incorporated into the Annual National
Event in the spring.
Bevin Boys are entitled to wear the National Service Medal and the
General Service Cross. They are now entitled to wear the Bevin Boys
Badge.
All Bevin Boys, be they ballottees, optants or
volunteers, are eligible to apply. Applications will
also be accepted from widows of Bevin Boys who
passed away on or after the 20 June 2007, the date
when the announcement of the badge was made. This is
provided a copy of the marriage and death
certificate are attached to the application form.
Warwick H. Taylor. MBE
Vice President, Press Publicity, Public Relations, Author, Historian &
Archivist.
From the 26th September 1942, men under the age of 25 could opt for
underground work in mining as an alternative to military service.
From the 18th September 1943, registrants eligible for call,.. up were
specifically asked if they wished to be considered for placing in
coalmining instead of the forces.
By the 25th September 1943, 13,078 opted or volunteered for mining. of
these 4,145 had subsequently withdrawn or proved unsuitable, with only
3,530 placed in coal mining, with the remainder still under
consideration.
On the 19th October 1943, Ernest Bevin the Minister of Fuel & Power
announced that men with previous underground mining experience who were
serving in the army at home were to be released for coalmining.
Additionally it was proposed to direct another 50,000 men compulsory to
the coal mines in the course of 1944.
Subsequently a statement was made by the Minister of Labour &' National
Service in the house of commons on the 2nd December 1943 outlining
compulsory recruitment of men for coalmining by means of balloting.
On the 14th December 1943, the first of 33 fortnightly ballot draws took
place with the last draw being cancelled due to the end of the war with
Germany.
Thereafter men called up for National Service were no longer subject to
the ballot but could still opt or volunteer for work in the coalmines in
lieu of service in the forces. this scheme continued until 1948. |
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