Bevin Boys P3

Ken Holland Looking for former comrades I met at Silverdale mine North Staffs.
Norman Brickell - Looking for Len Mansell from Liverpool and Ken Knitingale from around Cambridge
Ashlie Chapman - Easington Bevin Boys, what happened to the gang?
Bauldyhead - I Need a Bevin Boys badge, Marley Hill pit 1945
Stan Durban - I was posted to Shipley Coppice in July 1944
Liz Sanderson - My father, Richard Robinson, was a 'Bevin Boy' during the war
Ken Ashton - I Was a Bevin Boy at Newmarket Colliery
Pauline Woodford - URGENT Is there a list of Bevin boys who were called up?

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From: Ashlie Chapman
Sent: 12 July 2004 19:34
Subject: Easington Bevin Boys, what happened to the gang?

I'm trying to find out if anyone out there was a Bevin Boy at Easington Colliery pit in County Durham , during the war, or had a relative who worked there.

My mam used to go to the Bevin hut dances there and has fond memories and often wonders what happened to the gang.

Some names she remembers are Julian Jover, John Gilbert, Frank Moon, Spud Murphy, Johnny Allcock. Her name was Doreen Forbes then, she lived in Easington and still does and we have looked at various websites to try and contact any of them for old times sake, and to share some old stories, but cannot find a list of Bevin Boys at all.

I don't really know if you can help her but if you could tell me any information at all that would help I would be very grateful, as she feels that their contribution to the war effort was recognised officially not a moment too soon!!

Thanks
Ashlie Chapman

I was posted to Shipley Coppice in July 1944
Stan Durban
25 June 2002

I was a Bevin Boy, I was posted to the above pit after training at Creswell Training Centre, in July 1944. Did two weeks training on the bank at Bottom End, then haulage work, lived in a hostel in Eastwood. After about 3 months I was put in a stall or heading with two brothers, wasn't too popular with them, never did find out why, money I think.
Then I went on the face as a Codger, Youth clearing the spillage on the bottom belt. Worked with a team, Herbert Keeling, John Allsop, our shotfirer was Joe Knight.
Then I was put boring, that was the best job I had, Derby County were at their best, so some of the lads went missing for the day and I got put in a length, the lads looked after me, I was earning good money. They tried to teach me to chew tobacco, never did take to it.
Left in 1947 when my time was up, wouldn't have missed it for the world.
You have a good site.

Sincerely Stan Durban

My father, Richard Robinson was a 'Bevin Boy' during the war
Liz Sanderson.
05/05/2002

I was interested to find your site.
My father, Richard Robinson was from a long line of miners and went into the pits himself aged 14.
He was a 'Bevin Boy' during the war and afterwards joined the mines rescue brigade in Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Dad moved to Wakefield and was deputy superintendent there, and was involved in the Lofthouse colliery disaster and in recovering bodies from Flixborough.
He had a rich fund of information about life in the mines; please get in touch if you would be interested in more information.
I should be interested to see if anyone remembers Dad and the stations/incidents he was involved in.
I will forward more information once I have time to really get it in order! -
I have a photo of Dad and some of the brigade men, a press photo done for a briefing at the time of the Lofthouse disaster - please let me know if you would like me to mail this. I think your website is a marvellous tribute to the men involved in mines.
Regards
Liz Sanderson.

I Was a Bevin Boy at Newmarket Colliery
Ken Ashton
Mon 24/11/2003

I was a bevin boy at newmarket colliery during ww2. my name Ken Ashton.
seeking Doug Fletcher from Bradford or john Sutcliffe from Leeds(Hunslet I think).

URGENT Is there a list of Bevin boys who were called up?
Pauline Woodford
Sun 16/11/2003

Hello please can u help me. I am trying to find out about when my father was a Bevin boy. The only information I have is that he was 18, was a Bevin boy in a mine in Mansfield Notts.
Idon't know how I would be able to find out the name of the mine. He stayed with a family called the Gents. He all so said that there was a social club or some thing like that were he once went back to a few years ago someone did know him even after all that time. Sadly he passed a way 11 years ago now. I have been trying ever since; he did have a nick name 'killer' on his hat. He played football. He was football mad. He had an accident and was in hospital for 9 moths. His name was Archibald Woodford D.o.B 18.11.26. He may have been known as Arthur or Archie as he never liked his real name. Please if u could help in any way I would really be very great full. I am getting very desperate. He also said that loads of photos were all ways been taken. It would be great if I could just get even a photo of him for my mother as she is in very poor heath now. I did wonder if there is a list of Bevin boys who were called up, maybe then I could find out the name of his mine. the only other thing I know is that the name East Kirkby was another part my mother remembers the full address what my mother thinks is east Kirkby, Mansfield, Durham Notts but we are not sure if she has this right. Any help would be a great help after all this time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, sorry if it's a bit messed up I just tried to get it all down, new to all this on a computer, my husband brought this to try and help me.
Thanks.
Pauline Woodford. (Daughter)

Hi Fionn
This is a nice one, is Pauline on the web ? If she is suggest she logs on to 'PITS IN THE EAST MIDLANDS' there is a list which may give her a clue. Her Dad probably did his training at Creswell Training Centre where I did mine, there is no list to my knowledge, I was in a hostel at Worksop & then Forest Town Mansfield, but I went to Derbyshire. She could try:-

The Bevin Boys Association
c/o Warwick H. Taylor MBE
'Little Barn'
1 Rundlestone Court
Poundbury
Dorchester
DT1 3TN
Dorset
England

There is an East Kirkby in Ashfield Notts; if she enters that in the PC there is a fair bit of info about pits. Can't see how the Durham bit is relevant. Give Pauline my best wishes & if she thinks I can help let me know. Stan Durban

From:
Sent:
Subject:

Norman Brickell
12 September 2004
Bevin Boy looking for Len Mansell from Liverpool and Ken Knitingale from around Cambridge

I did my training at Prince of Wales colliery Pontefract in March 1944. Then went to New Monckton Colliery, Royston Yorkshire working down No1 Pit on T Unit doing many jobs -- mostly eating dust, until late 47. For the last two years I was living at Broadway Miners Hostel, Barnsley .

If any of you lads have any knowledge of two BB friends, Len Mansell from Liverpool and Ken Knitingale from around Cambridge , both worked at Grimethorp, I would dearly like to hear any news of them.

From:
Sent:
Subject:

Ken Holland
17 October 2004
Bevin Boy looking for former comrades I met at Silverdale mine North Staffs

My name is Kenneth Wade and I worked at Silverdale mine North Staffs, as a Bevin Boy during the later part of the War.

I would like to contact former comrades I met then.

Thanking You.