KEETCH URGES BEVIN BOYS TO SIGN UP FOR BADGE

8.23.00pm GMT Mon 5th Nov 2007

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, today urges Bevin Boys living within his constituency to sign up for the lapel badge to be awarded to surviving Bevin Boys in recognition of their contribution during World War Two.

Commenting, the MP said, "Between 1943 and 1948 48,000 men were conscripted to the mining industry in the UK in lieu of service in the Armed Forces. For several years there has been a campaign to gain recognition of the contribution the Bevin Boys made to the war effort and to post war reconstruction in the UK.

I am pleased to say that the Government has announced that a lapel badge would be awarded to surviving Bevin Boys in recognition of that contribution and would urge those who wish to do so to apply for the badge."

An application form can be obtained by calling the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency [MoD] on 0800 16902277 or from www.veterans-uk.info/bevin_boys/bevin.doc.