- Type of Memorial
- Stone of remembrance
- WMR Reference Number
- 64364
- Description
- A memorial comprising four rough-cast standing Kilkenny quarry stones within a small garden with a dedicatory circular plaque.
Stone 1: Engraving of pithead gear, being the badge of the Bevin Boys, with inscription.
Stone 2: Inscription
Stone 3: Engraving of miner's boot, spade, helmet and other equipment with square inset engraved inscription
Stone 4: Dedicatory inscription below pithead gear engraving
Plaque: Circular metal plaque on spike with inscription.
A stone bench is placed in front of the memorial. Three planted trees represent the regions in which the Bevin boys served: narrow oak (England); mountain ash (Wales) and Scots pine (Scotland).
- Inscription
- [Stone 1]: BEVIN BOYS/ WE ALSO SERVED/ 1943-1948
[Stone 2]: THE BEVIN BOYS WERE/NATIONAL SERVICE CONSCRIPTS DIRECTED TO/ WORK UNDERGROUND IN/BRITISH COAL MINES/ PROVIDING UNSKILLED/ LABOUR/TO SAFEGUARD/ VITAL COAL PRODUCTION/TO POWER THE BRITISH/ WAR EFFORT AND/ PRODUCE COAL/ FOR THE/ NATION.
[STONE 3]: WHO WERE BEVIN BOYS/ IN 1943, THIS COUNTRY FACED A CRISIS IN COAL PRODUCTION AS THERE WAS ONLY/ THREE WEEKS OF COAL STOCK AVAILABLE. THIS PUT OUR COUNTRY'S ABILITY/ TO WIN THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN JEOPARDY./
THE THEN PRIME MINISTER, WINSTON CHURCHILL, CHARGED ERNEST BEVIN, HIS/ MINISTER OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE, TO INCREASE COAL PRODUCTION./
MR. BEVIN DECIDED THAT FROM ALL 18 TO 24 YEAR OLD MEN CONSCRIPTS DRAFTED/ TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES, ONE IN TEN WERE TO BE DIRECTED - ON PAIN OF IMPRISONMENT, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF BACKGROUND OR ABILITY - TO WORK/ UNDERGROUND IN BRITISH COAL MINES./
APPROXIMATELY 48,000 BEVIN BOYS (AS THEY CAME TO BE KNOWN)/ UNDERTOOK UNSKILLED MANUAL JOBS TO RELEASE MORE EXPERIENCED MINERS / TO MOVE ON TO COAL PRODUCTION AT THE COAL FACE./
THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE BEVIN BOYS SHOULD NOT BE LOST TO HISTORY.
[Stone 4]: DEDICATED/ BY / HRH THE/ COUNTESS/ OF/ WESSEX/ G.C.V.O./ 7 MAY 2013
[Plaque]: THE BEVIN BOYS/ ASSOCIATION/ DEDICATED TO THE / 48,000 BEVIN BOY CONSCRIPTS/ WHO WORKED UNDERGROUND IN/ THE COAL MINES OF ENGLAND,/ WALES AND SCOTLAND/ FROM 1943 TO 1948.