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Peter Asquith with his medal

A LONG wait for recognition is finally over for a Malvern pensioner who fulfilled a vital role in the British war effort.

Peter Asquith spent five years as a "Bevin Boy" after being selected at random to mine coal during World War Two.

Their hard work and dedication was honoured this week by the Prime Minister who called their contribution "incredibly important".

"Everyone seems to think we were conscientious objectors," said Mr Asquith, "but that's not true.

"When I was 18 I went to Leeds for a medical to join the Navy. Within a week I got a letter to say I had been balloted to go down the coal mines."

Mr Asquith objected, wanting to join his friends in the armed forces, but an appeal was unsuccessful and he was soon sent for training.

"I had been working in the local town hall beforehand and knew nothing about coal mining at all.

"When this happened I was devastated."

Mr Asquith, now aged 80, worked for four years at Cadeby Main Colliery, near Mexborough, in various duties including coal grading and more than two years on the actual coal face with just a pick and a shovel.

He described the stomach churning drop of the lift down to the mines and clambering along three miles of dark, winding shafts on a daily basis.

Mr Asquith, along with more than 40,000 other Bevin Boys nationally, had to contend not only with the dangers of coal mining, but also with the public perception of their role.

"I sometimes used to go home in my white helmet and steel boots, just so people knew I was actually working," explained Mr Asquith.

But the Bevin Boys came to understand that their efforts provided crucial support to a country with no other fuel supply.

Mr Asquith, who lives with his wife of 55 years, described the Prime Minister's announcements as a "proud moment".

He said: "Nothing happened for a long time. It's only in the past 14 years that things have changed for us."

In that time, Bevin Boys have been allowed to join ex-armed forces personnel parading on Armistice Day and Mr Asquith arranges regular reunions with other Bevin Boys in Worcestershire.

1:40pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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