256368 Derek Lewis Betts Bevin Boys from:Lutterworth, Leics Derek Betts was my father and he was picked to become a Bevin Boy when he was 18. He was born in 1926. He was sent to the Dunston On Tyne mine and it was arranged that he stayed with his sister's future mother-in-law and apparently she was very hostile to him. Not sure how long he was in the mines but had an accident and was sent to hospital. He was helping another man carry a very heavy piece of metal. The other man dropped his end. Derek received a hernia as a result.
His hernia was operated on and repaired. Whilst he was in hospital he was given the new drug Penicillin. Unfortunately, he proved to be highly allergic to the drug and almost died. He was sent home and never returned to the mines.
Upon his recovery he was sent to work as a security guard on troops ships who were travelling the world bringing back wounded service men at the end of the war.
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