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he remembers them. He said: “We had some really good times at the weekends in the local pubs.

“The local miners took us under their wings and often invited us for Sunday lunch. I couldn’t believ believe how different some of them were at home.

“One miner who sw swore constantly made us sit with his family and sing hymns.”

He went on: “T “There were lots of very religious yo young girls there a and I think he w wanted to marry m me off to one.”

Les returned to Suffolk and worked as a gamekeeper before his daughter Barbara, now 67, was born. He later moved to Colchester, Essex, and went on to manage a fruit farm until his retirement. He said: “It was lovely to be outside all day. ay. So different from the mines.” s.”

The records of many of f the Bevin Boys were destroyed in the 50s but the Bevin Boys Association was set up in 1989, lobbying to have their r war service recognised.

In 1998, surviving Bevin evin Boys were allowed to march arch in the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph. But it wasn’t until March 2008 that the dwindling numbers of Bevin Boys were awarded badges by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It’s something Les wears with pride today, as he sits in his home wh which is full of memorabilia recounting recoun his time in the mines. His H daughter has kept his conscription co papers in a special s book. Yet he has shunned s numerous invitations to the Cenotaph.

He said: “I’ve always said s no because I just don’t think t it’s right.”

He added: “At the end of the th day, I wasn’t a soldier, no m matter how much I wanted to be one.” one ”

For more information about the Bevin Boys visit bevinboysassociation.co.uk.