Harry Parkes
Thu, Sep 21st 2017 at 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm
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21stSeptember 2017– The Bevin Boys – Harry Parkes
In 1943 this country faced a crisis in coal production as there was only three weeks of coal stock available. This put the country’s ability to win the Second World War in jeopardy.
The then Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, charged Earnest Bevin, Minister of Labour and National Service to increase coal production. Mr Bevin decided that from all 18 to24 year old men conscripts drafted to serve in the armed forces, one in ten were to be directed – on pain of imprisonment and irrespective of background or ability – to work underground in British coal mines.
Approximately 48 000 Bevin Boys (as they became to be known) undertook unskilled manual jobs to release more experienced miners to move onto coal production at the coal face.
The role played by Bevin Boys should not be lost to history.
Harry is also responsible for the installation of a commemorative memorial to the Bevin Boys at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Reproduced with the permission of H. Parkes
DD/MF
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