Press Releases

48,000 young men were conscripted for National Service Employment in British coal mines between 1943 and 1948, as part of Ernest Bevin, wartime Minister of Labour and National Service's plan to keep Britain's coal industry working. Many of these Bevin Boys came to the mines of the south Wales coalfield, a move which changed their lives and those of the local communities forever.

Big Pit: National Mining Museum will commemorate these Bevin Boys at a special event held at the Museum on Saturday 24 September. We want to hear your memories, your stories and your recollections of Britain's forgotten war heroes.

For many years, the contribution of the Bevin Boys was largely ignored. Official records were destroyed in the 1950s, making it impossible for former Bevin Boys to prove their personal service if they had not kept their personal documents. The late 1980s saw the Bevin Boys get together for their first reunion, and since then, events have been organised at various venues.

Big Pit wants to share your memories with the world. The reunion itself forms part of a wide-ranging series of events and activities throughout September and October celebrating the contribution of the Bevin Boys on recent history.

If you were a Bevin Boy, or if you have any stories to tell, or if you'd like to take part in September's event, please contact Kathryn Stowers at Big Pit, on 01495 790 311. Kathryn.stowers@museumwales.ac.uk .

Big Pit is one of the National Museums & Galleries of Wales' six sites across Wales. Other NMGW sites are the National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff, Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon, National Woollen Museum, Dre fach Felindre and the Welsh Slate Museum, Llanberis. Opening later this year is the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, outlining the story of industry and innovation in Wales.

Entry to all NMGW sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.