The topic at the society's meeting on October 9, was The Bevin Boys.

Based on his book, The Forgotten Conscript, former Bevin Boy Warwick Taylor gave a lively account of his experiences in the Welsh coal mines during the Second World War.

With many miners away in the Forces, there was a serious shortage of coal by 1943, in fact just three weeks' supply left, and a fortnightly ballot of conscripts was introduced.

A tenth of all those called up went to the mines and there were no exceptions, even for those with some military training already.

Told to report to the training centres in the coal fields, they had just four weeks' training, of which a quarter was PT, before work began in the mines.

All Bevin Boys worked underground, in eight-hour shifts along with the regular miners, until they were demobbed at the end of the war as the miners returned from the Forces.

In all, 55,000 served in the coal fields but their contribution to the war effort was largely forgotten.

They received no medals or other recognition and most records were destroyed.

However in 1989, the Bevin Boys Association was founded and it now has nearly 2,000 members.

In 1995 they were invited to join the VE and VJ Parades in London and they now march past the Cenotaph each November.

Warwick Taylor, vice-president of the association, has been able to piece together much of the history of the work and achievements of this forgotten army.

His talk revived many memories in his audience and was thoroughly enjoyed by all those present.

Next Meeting is on Thursday, November 14 at 7.45 pm at Webheath Village Hall when the topic will be The Worcestershire Regiment.