Memorial unveiled for wartime miners the Bevin Boys
The Countess of Wessex has unveiled a memorial to 48,000 men who worked in British coal mines during the Second World War.
Memorial opening in Staffordshire for the 'Bevin Boys'
A memorial is being officially unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Bikers pay tribute
Today will see the annual Ride to the Wall event take place, with bikers from around the country heading to the National Memorial Arboretum.
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Memorial "restores" Bevin Boys' dignity
Harry Parkes says the unveiling of the new memorial will restore the dignity of the Bevin Boys.
Memorial unveiled for wartime miners the Bevin Boys
The Countess of Wessex has unveiled a memorial to 48,000 men who worked in British coal mines during the Second World War.
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Countess of Wessex unveils Bevin Boys memorial
Who are the Bevin Boys?
- When Britain declared war in 1939, thousands of experienced miners left the mines to join the armed services or transfer to higher-paid "war industries".
- By the summer of 1943 more than 36,000 men had left the coal industry and the Government decided it needed around 40,000 men to take their places.
- Labour and National Service Minister Ernest Bevin devised a scheme whereby a ballot put a proportion of conscripts into the collieries rather than the armed services.
- Alongside the ballotees were also men who volunteered for service in the coal mines rather than military.
- Between 1943 and 1948, 48,000 young men were conscripted for National Service Employment in British coal mines - they were known as the Bevin Boys.
- It is thought around 5,000 miners lost their lives during the war.
Memorial opening in Staffordshire for the 'Bevin Boys'
A memorial is being officially unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Read the full storyMemorial unveiling at Arboretum for WW2 coal miners
A memorial dedicated to the men who worked in coal mines in the Second World War will be officially unveiled today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The memorial is for the 48,000 young men – called the Bevin Boys – who carried out the dangerous work.
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Work begins to engrave names of war heroes in Staffordshire
Work has begun to engrave the names of 53 war heroes on a memorial wall in Staffordshire.
Nick Hindle will be engraving the names of the fallen servicemen at the National Memorial Arboretum over the next few weeks.
New names to be engraved on national remembrance wall
Work starts today to add 53 new names on the memorial wall at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
It will take Nick Hindle around a month to engrave the names of those who have died during recent conflicts throughout 2012.
The first names to be added are those that were serving in the Royal Navy – followed by the Army and RAF.
Memorial held for 19 servicemen who died during the Falklands War
A memorial service has followed the unveiling of a new plaque at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today, to remember the 19 servicemen who died onboard HMS Coventry in 1982.
The chairman of the HMS Coventry Association, Chris Howe MBE, said that the memorial is a place for survivors to visit and remember the servicemen who died.
Memorial unveiled for Falklands ship disaster
A memorial to those who died on HMS Coventry during the Falklands War in 1982, has been unveiled today.
A single plaque, funded by the HMS Coventry Association, stands in front of an oak tree, which has been planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
In May 1982, 19 crewmen died when an Argentinian missile struck the ship.
A two-day referendum is currently taking place on the Falkland Islands to see if the country wishes to remain a territory of the UK.
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