Wartime service in coal mine honoured

An 83-year-old man has finally won recognition for his wartime service as a "Bevin Boy" in a Shropshire coal mine - thanks to Telford MP David Wright.

Reg Lewis, of West View, Bratton, near Wellington, was one of thousands of unsung heroes drafted down the mines instead of the armed forces in the Second World War. He said he was very proud to receive his award.

The scheme - to tackle a national shortage of coal - was launched by Labour's Ernest Bevin, minister of labour and national service in Winston Churchill's coalition government.

Now, 65 years later, Mr Lewis has received a badge commemorating his service to the nation.

"One of my neighbours saw an article showing Sir Jimmy Savile, who was also a Bevin Boy, getting his badge," he said.

"She thought if Sir Jimmy could get his picture in the Shropshire Star, so could I."Mr Lewis phoned Telford Labour MP David Wright who has appealed through the Shropshire Star for surviving Bevin Boys and members of the Women's Land Army to get in touch following a decision by the Government to recognise their service.

"Mr Wright was really helpful, getting me the form to apply for my badge," Mr Lewis said.

The medal, inscribed Bevin Boy Veteran, arrived in the post last week.

"We all did our bit for the war effort. I was serving my country in the same way as soldiers and I'm very proud to have my badge," he said.

Born in Rushbury, near Church Stretton, Mr Lewis later moved with his family to Broseley where he started work at the age of 14 as a building apprentice. He was expecting to be called up for the Army when war broke out and was surprised to receive a letter in 1943 saying that he was being conscripted as a Bevin Boy.

Until his demob in 1948, Mr Lewis worked at Madeley Wood Colliery, Kemberton, including shovelling coal at the coal face in a cramped space of just 18ins by 2ft.

"I'd never been underground before but it never did me any harm. I used to chew coal for indigestion," he said.

"It was physically hard but an interesting job and I worked with a good bunch of lads."

Mr Lewis went back to work as a builder after the war.

A widower, he puts down his good health to years of cycling, still using his bike regularly for getting out and about.