I found this newspaper article below about Bevin Boys. They were not considered at the time to be in a reserved occupation and were not given the recognition they deserved until a few years ago. There must have been many of them sent down mines in Northumberland and County Durham as well as in the rest of England and Wales. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3636035/Bevin-Boys-Most-of-us-couldnt-wait-to-get-out.html Regards Jenny DeAngelis