Bevin Boy’s Sketch Book by Keith J. I. Greenslade
Summary: This 40-page A5 format softback book is written by a Bevin Boy working in Welsh coal mines during World War 2. But, as the title suggests, this is not just a book of text about the Bevin Boys; it contains 20 drawings done by Keith during his service. Keith chose to be a miner (so he was an “optant”) and was trained at Oakdale Colliery in the Sirhowy Valley in Monmouthshire (now Gwent). He then worked alongside other conscripted Bevin Boys and the miners who were not in the armed services. Keith worked in the mines for about a year, going in classified as health grade A1 and coming out at grade B2.
The last part of the book is the history of the Penalta coal mine near Caerphilly, where Keith worked later. Also with some photographs of that mine.
Publisher: Driven by Steam, 2007.
Price: £6.00 + £0.80 p&p.