Bevin Boys veterans badge: guidance
Updated 17 June 2022
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About the application process
Who is eligible?
The badge is given to all survivors who either through compulsion or volunteering worked in the mines under the Bevin Boys scheme rather than serving in the armed forces.
The widows of men who died on or after 20 June 2007, the date the badge was announced, and fall into the above category are also eligible.
Widows criteria
Widows need to attach their late husband’s death certificate (with a date of death on or after 20 June 2007) and their marriage certificate. Please note non-certified copies are acceptable.
Why are other widows or estates not eligible?
The Bevin Boys badge is a survivor’s badge and the intention is that it should be worn in public to visibly raise awareness of the important role they played during World War 2 and in the post war reconstruction of the UK. Due to the time it took to implement the badge the department decided all Bevin Boys who were surviving on or after 20 June 2007, when the badge was announced, are included.
Why are miners who were forced, as mining was a reserved occupation, to stay in the pits not eligible?
The existing miners who stayed down the mine played a key role in the war effort – however, the purpose of this badge is to recognise those who were selected or volunteered as part of the Bevin Boys scheme. Although miners who were already employed in the pits also made a similar contribution they were not part of this process.
How long will it take to process applications?
Badges normally take 2 to 3 weeks to issue.
Why is there no crown on the badge?
The presence of a crown on a badge is to signify crown service. Generally speaking, crown servants are employees whose –
- offices or employments are carried out under the crown
- duties of employment are of a public nature; or
- salaries are paid out of the public funds of the UK or Northern Ireland
The Bevin Boys worked for and were paid by the individual collieries or mining companies that owned those collieries. While some of them may have been conscripted to mine work through a government departmental initiative they did not work for the crown.
About the Bevin Boys scheme
Who are the Bevin Boys?
The Bevin Boys scheme was introduced in 1943 by then Minister for Labour and National Service, Ernest Bevin, in response to an increasing shortage of labour in the coal mining industry. The scheme ran between 1943 and 1948 and involved recruiting men aged between 18 and 25 years old to work in coal mines rather than serve in the Armed Forces. Some 48,000 men were either conscripted or volunteered under the scheme.
How many Bevin Boys were there?
There were 48,000 Bevin Boys. Approximately 43% were ‘ballotees’ - this is where 1 in 10 conscripts were picked. The remaining 57% were those who volunteered to work in the mines after being called up, those who opted for mine work in preference to joining the Armed Forces or those who were in the Armed Forces and volunteered to become miners.
Date of call up
Bevin Boys were called up between 1943 and 1948 and would have been aged 18 to 25.
Period of training
This would have lasted 6 weeks.
Colliery trained in
Training was carried out at 1 of 13 pits. These are:
- Scotland – Muircockhall (Fife)
- Northern – Old Morrison (Durham)
- Northern – Horden (Durham)
- Northern Cramlington
- Lamb (Northend)
- North Eastern – Askern main (Yorkshire)
- North Eastern – Prince of Wales (Yorkshire)
- North East – Birley East (Yorkshire)
- North western – Newton (Lancashire)
- North Midlands – Cresswell (Derbyshire)
- Midlands – Haunchwood (Warwickshire)
- Wales – Oakdale (Monmouthshire)
- Midlands – Kemball (Staffordshire)
- Southern – Chislet Kent
There may be some Bevin Boys who were trained on site at a particular pit but these will be limited.
Contact us
Who should potential applicants contact if they have any questions and where should the completed form be sent?
Completed forms should be sent to:
or
Christine Mower
Coal Liabilities Unit
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Level 6
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2HP
Queries should be made to Christine Mower at either the above address or by telephone on 07471 358264. Alternatively contact Jeremy Cousins on 07788 337484.