The Bevin Boys

The Luck Of The Draw

The fate of many men in the United Kingdom called up for service during the Second World War (1939-1945) depended on a number being drawn from a civil servant's hat.

This was how from 1943 onwards, one in every 10 male conscripts of a certain age were chosen by ballot to work in the coal industry. The 48,000 men that had to help the war effort in this way were called 'Bevin Boys' because the man in charge of labour and manpower planning was Ernest Bevin, the wartime Minister of Labour & National Service.

Although some men volunteered to work in the mines rather than be conscripted into the Armed Forces, most of the 18-25 year olds chosen by ballot to become 'Bevin Boys' were upset as they wanted to fight the enemy in a more direct way. Some people in the mining communities were not impressed either, as the 'Bevin Boys', because of their age, usually had no experience of work, let alone any idea of what went on at collieries. People also wrongly thought that these men working in the mines were conscientious objectors (those who did not want to kill because of their beliefs).

'Bevin Boys' were also upset because after the end of the war, many of them had to stay on in the coalfields, and felt that they did not receive the recognition they deserved because of their work.