Bevin Boys badge welcomed

The move announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair to officially recognise the heroic work of the Black Country's Bevin Boys during the Second World War, has been welcomed by a Dudley MP.

Representative for the north of the borough, Ian Austin, said he was delighted to hear of plans for a new lapel badge acknowledging their effort.

The 'Bevin Boys' were young men, randomly selected to work in the coal mines from 1943 until 1948 and provided a vital, but largely unrecognised part in the domestic war effort.

Famous 'Bevin Boys' included Jimmy Saville and comic legend Eric Morecambe.

Mr Austin said: "I am delighted our campaign has paid off. These young men served our nation but have often been forgotten. Local collieries such as Baggeridge accepted the conscripts who came from all backgrounds – some of whom paid the ultimate price in their endeavour to rid Europe of the Nazis.

"The role of the Bevin Boys has never been fully appreciated and I am delighted to see that we can now recognise their efforts."

Warwick Taylor, vice president of the Bevin Boys Association, said: "I am extremely pleased to see the introduction of this badge, which recognises a sometimes forgotten group of men who were either selected or volunteered to serve their country by not fighting in the war to ensure that those at home and on the front line were able to keep the war effort going."