Northfleet History Group - May 2011 Meeting.
THE BEVIN BOYS
Ann Kneif
At the monthly meeting of the Northfleet History Ann Kneif gave a very interesting and entertaining talk on the Bevin Boys. In 1943 Ernest Bevin, the then Minister of Labour and National Service, sought to overcome the shortage of miners by selecting at random the names of young men due to be called up for National Service to work in the mines instead of being enlisted into the armed forces. The selection was made by a secretary pulling a digit 0 to 9 from a hat and all those whose National Service call up number ended in that digit were directed to the mines. About forty per cent of those selected to work in the mines appealed against their selection but very few won their appeal.
During her research Ann spoke to many “Bevin Boys” and one young man after going down into the mine for the first time said he would rather have stayed down for the length of his service than use the lift, or cage as it was called, again.
These miners worked for the same wages as enlisted man but they had no uniform and had to buy their own food and accommodation. As they had no uniform they also had to suffer the taunts usually aimed at conscientious objectors
Ann answered many questions before we had our tea break, after which Brian Bennett, Northfleet History Group’s treasurer, lead a discussion on the origin of some of Northfleet’s Street names.
Bucks Cross Road, Hartshill Road and Newton Abbott Road all named after places where Northfleet children were evacuated to during WWII. Johnson Close and Aspdin Road for cement manufacturers and many more street names associated with war heroes, London and Northfleet pleasure gardens, local political leaders and many more. This proved very popular so we discussing the origin of more street names in the future.
During her research Ann spoke to many “Bevin Boys” and one young man after going down into the mine for the first time said he would rather have stayed down for the length of his service than use the lift, or cage as it was called, again.
These miners worked for the same wages as enlisted man but they had no uniform and had to buy their own food and accommodation. As they had no uniform they also had to suffer the taunts usually aimed at conscientious objectors
Ann answered many questions before we had our tea break, after which Brian Bennett, Northfleet History Group’s treasurer, lead a discussion on the origin of some of Northfleet’s Street names.
Bucks Cross Road, Hartshill Road and Newton Abbott Road all named after places where Northfleet children were evacuated to during WWII. Johnson Close and Aspdin Road for cement manufacturers and many more street names associated with war heroes, London and Northfleet pleasure gardens, local political leaders and many more. This proved very popular so we discussing the origin of more street names in the future.