Bevin Boy

When WW2 broke out I was 13 years of age, like any boy I wanted to join the Army and fight. At 18 I received my call up papers and was horrified to discover that I was to go down the mines. I had a tremendous fear of small confined places and did not like the dark. I was going to be a 'Bevin Boy'.
I was sent to South Wales, ironically, this is where my family came from. This was the most terrifying time of my life, to be sent underground and not knowing if I would ever see daylight again.
Well, I only lasted six weeks because I ran away. I first went home to Bath and then travelled to London to do blitz work. I was in London for about a year before I went home again.
The authorities caught up with me for running away from the coal mine and I had to appear in Court. I told the Magistrate that I had suffered from nerves and could not cope being down a coal mine. He sent me to see a psychiatrist before sentencing me. The psychiatrist report said there was nothing wrong with me (this was now over a year since the event). At my second appearance in front of the Magistrate I was told that I had to go back down the mines but I said (very politely) that I would not go. I remember the Magistrate saying "we'll see".
One week later I was told to report to Colchester to join the Army.

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