Bevin Boy, 97, who was branded a ‘coward’ after being forced to dig coal rather than fight in the Second World War, is finally being honored for his eight decades of service on

A Bevin Boy branded a ‘coward’ after being forced to dig coal rather than fight in the Second World War has finally been honored for his service – 80 years on.

John Avery, 97, was one of thousands of men forced to work in the mines to increase coal production – even as they enlisted in the military.

While the young men were drawn to the roles by ballot, the general public often looked down on them – mistakenly believing them to be draft dodgers.

But eight decades on, John – who is known as Jack to his friends – has finally received a Defense Medal to recognize the importance of his national service to Britain’s war effort.

And the great-grandfather of seven dedicated the award to other brave men and women who went unrecognized while serving in civilian roles during the conflict.

He said: ‘This medal is not just for me but for all those who served on the Home Front and were never recognised.

‘I think of all those who were killed in the bombings on the Home Front, especially the firefighters and just count my blessings I’ve had such a long and happy life.’

John grew up at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, where his heroic father John William Avery – who served in both world wars – was stationed as a groundsman.

But when he applied to follow in his footsteps, he was instead drafted into the role of miner and became one of the 48,000 young men known as the ‘Bevin Boys’.

They kept the country supplied with energy – and got their nickname from the then Labor and Nationals Minister, Ernest Bevin, who created the policy.

But their vital contribution to the war effort was only recognized in 1995 by the government – with John unaware he could even qualify for a medal until recently.

He was finally presented with it at the Guildhall, in his home city of York, on April 5 by his local MP Rachael Maskell.

John said: ‘It means a lot. It’s something I can wear when I go to the parades and it’s something I can pass on to my son and grandson.

‘I didn’t even know there was a medal and when I found out I certainly wasn’t expecting this today – I thought it would come through the post!’

John’s daughter, Angela Lancaster, said the honor had helped him overcome some of the decades of hurt he had felt after the war.

She said: ‘The medal makes up for a lot of the pain he’s had all his life – not being recognized for what he did.

‘He’s really struggled with it. People thought he was a conscientious objector, or he was a coward – it was forced labor in a way.

‘He was very, very nervous about the ceremony. But once he got into it, he absolutely loved it. And he said afterwards: ‘What a lovely day’. He really enjoyed it.’

Rachael Maskell MP said she was equally delighted that he had finally received recognition for his incredible work during the Second World War.

She added: ‘I was delighted to present John with his medal today for his service to our country during the Second World War.

‘As Mr Avery was one of the last few veterans in the UK, it was a memorable day for him and his family and it was great to hear his stories and hear about his time in the Navy, as a Bevin Boy down in the pit and how the world has changed in his 97 years.’

Born in October 1926, John was just 13 years old when World War II broke out in September 1939.

But as soon as he turned 16, he volunteered for the Home Civil Defense Force as a bicycle messenger and remembered delivering letters during German bombing raids.

He said: ‘I remember the Newcastle Blitz and taking cases of drink to the firemen.

‘We climbed over the hoses and rubbish while they were fighting the fires to make sure they got bottles of drinks.

‘We didn’t think about the danger, we just knew the firefighters needed drinks to keep going.’

John also delivered messages to brave soldiers returning from Dunkirk and stationed at a nearby barracks – who he remembered paid him in foreign coins.

And he put his name forward for the navy at the age of 19, hoping to serve in the forces like his father, who was a lance corporal in the Northumberland Fusiliers and Pioneer Corps.

But he was instead forced into the coal mines as war raged to work as a Bevin Boy, despite his father’s appeals against the decision.

While the public often regarded the workers as not as brave as their military counterparts, John said his time in the trenches, from 1944 to 1948, was fraught with danger.

He said: ‘The pits were very dangerous and I had a near fatal accident when some coal buckets derailed and I ended up under them in the smallest hole.

‘How I escaped being killed I will never know.’

After the war John moved to York in 1950 where he first worked on the ground before spending 35 years with British confectionery brand Rowntree’s in the packaging, storage and security departments.

He married his wife Brenda in 1953 and remained with her until her death ten years ago.