The Auckland Project Pre and Post Visit Resources

The Auckland Project Pre and Post Visit Resources for Schools Who Were the Bevin Boys? This information sheet will give your class a brief overview of the Bevin Boys and who they were. It illustrates the link between local history and coal mining and World War II. Use it as a source of information for History lessons or as a text for guided or shared reading. This resource has been designed to extend and deepen learning in conjunction with the following workshop(s): A Miner’s Life: Interactive Gallery Tour (Mining Art Gallery) A Miner’s Life: Print Making (Mining Art Gallery It has been aimed at students in the following age group(s): KS 2 KS 3 Key Curriculum Links include: History, English Please note: use of these resources prior to or following visits is optional and no prior knowledge will be assumed by staff at The Auckland Project. Teachers may adapt these resources as they wish, according to the needs of their students. For any further questions, or to request copyright information, please contact: education@aucklandproject. org

WHO WERE THE BEVIN BOYS? History/English: This information sheet will give your class a brief overview of the Bevin Boys and who they were. It illustrates the link between local history and coal mining and World War II. Use it as a source of information for History lessons or as a text for guided or shared reading. Mining during World War II Who were the Bevin Boys? When war broke out in September 1939, 875 000 men volunteered to join the armed services (army, navy, air force). However, as the war continued and developed, more men were needed. How could this be achieved? Many posters and adverts encouraged young men to join the armed forces and in 1940 conscription was introduced. This meant that men aged between 19 and 27 were ordered to fight. 2 000 British men were ‘called up’, trained and sent off to war. Think: How would you feel about being ordered to fight? The only exception to this rule was for people who worked in ‘reserved occupations’: farmers, dock workers, miners, scientists, merchant seamen, railway workers, utility workers. These jobs were vital for the war effort and Britain could not afford to lose them. Think: What were the contributions of these groups to the war effort?

Because lots of young men had gone off to war, the number of people working in coal mines decreased. Coal was needed for the war effort and for ordinary people to heat their homes. It was tough getting people to volunteer to work in the mines so in 1943, conscription for working in coal mines was introduced. The 48, 000 men who were ordered to do this were known as the ‘Bevin Boys’, named after Ernest Bevin, the Minister for Labour and National Service. So, if you were conscripted after 1943, you could be sent off to war or sent to work in coal mines all over the country. Men did not get to choose; this was decided by a random ballot. Think: Many men wanted to fight, rather than work in the coal mines. Why do you think that was? Perceptions of the Bevin Boys were often unfair; some people resented them for not being directly involved in the fighting and they were sometimes accused of cowardice. Their important contribution to World War II was finally recognised in 1995. Tom Mc. Guinness and Ted Holloway are two artists who were also Bevin Boys during World War II. What can their artworks tell you about their experiences working in the coal mines?