Bevin Boys honoured in Lothians

Charles Gillespie, from Stenhousemuir, was a Bevin Boy

Some of the forgotten heroes of Britain's war effort have been honoured at a ceremony in Midlothian.

Members of the Bevin Boys were presented with commemorative badges at Newtongrange Mining Museum, on Friday.

They were following in the footsteps of colleagues in other parts of the UK who have already received their badges.

More than 40,000 young men were conscripted to work in the country's coal mines from December 1943 to the end of World War II.

The Boys, none of whom had any experience of mining, were chosen by lottery and found themselves deep underground at the age of 18.

They were named after Ernest Bevin, the wartime Minister for Labour, who realised that there was a shortage of able-bodied men to work in the mines as many had been called up into the forces.

After the war they were largely ignored, receiving no medals and not allowed to march with ex-servicemen at remembrance parades.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister ended years of campaigning by former Bevin Boys, presenting badges to 27 men in Downing Street.

Others received theirs at ceremonies around the country, and Friday was the turn of the surviving Scots, who received their badges from Gordon Banks, who led the campaign for recognition.