Called Up Sent Down: The Bevin Boys' War

by Tom Hickman

At the outbreak of war, the government short-sightedly allowed thousands of miners to enlist in the armed services. By 1943 the war effort was in danger of grinding to a halt because of a lack of coal. In answer, Minister of Labour Ernest Bevin sought service volunteers, and compulsorily sent 20,000 18-year-olds—who had expected to fight for their country—down the mines with them. Some were so angry that they preferred to go to prison, though the majority went to do their best. But some were psychologically or physically unsuited to such dangerous and arduous work. Many were injured; some died. This study paints a picture not just of the arduous life below ground but as the Bevin Boys found it in the tightly-knit mining communities, which in some cases welcomed them but in others treated them with hostility. This is an enthralling oral and social history of an episode of the Second World War that has never been fully told.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Tom Hickman has worked as features writer, features editor and editor on various national magazines, newspapers and for the BBC.

Reviews

[Deborah Siddoway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much to my shame, I know very little about the history of mining in this country. My grandfather was a miner, and his stories of life in the mines hid the horrors of what it was truly like. This book explores what it was for those that were effectively conscripted to go into the pits, to hew coal for their country, and the unfairness that followed as the war ended and they tried to return to their normal lives. The value of this book lies in the recording of the histories of the miners who lived through this, voices that otherwise be lost as they years pass. The research was solid, the writing consistent. As I explore my own heritage, my own history, this book has been a real gem.

[Matt Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. I knew nothing about the Bevin Boys prior to reading this, but having mining in my own family background and having researched mining arts culture previously (The Pitmen Painters particularly) it was great to fill in another knowledge gap.

A horrifying, relentlessly difficult job - depicted honestly and with humour from the viewpoints of many young men forced down to the coal face to support the war effort.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book falls into three parts, the setting up of the Bevin Boys, their time down the mines and the end of the war and beyond. The problem is that the long middle part could be about any mineworkers as it describes the conditions that they work in therefore it just feels like a book about mining

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed better proof reading and sometimes better editing as the odd bit was unclear. Otherwise very interesting and well written.