Hi Mildred I don't think thats right on the Bevan boys It is my understanding that they were chosen by ballot from conscripts and volunteers and were in most respects the same as the recruits to the other services Wikipedia seems to bear that out <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bevin_Boys> Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) 'Bevan Boys' who worked in the mines, > were men judged unfit for active service in the armed forces but men > were also drafted to work in shipyards and were billeted on local > people. We had three men billeted on us in 1940, one from Yorkshire, > one from Durham and one from London. A tight fit in a 1930's > semi-detached, two bedroomed house which already had my > parents,myself and a baby. Mildred Robson .