A Reluctant Conscript 1944-48 Part 7

I was never afraid of hard work, my father had seen to that. I became more experienced in the business of moving the coal tubs to and from the conveyer. I began to find that Harry Wilkinson, my minder, was entrusting me with more responsible tasks and I was being picked for any overtime that was required. On many occasions I would go to work in the dark at 5.30am and not see any daylight that day. I have since thought that this overtime might possibly have been because, being on the lowest rate of pay I was cheap and being exploited.
Surely I am mistaken, Harry wouldn't have done that.
Pony driving was my next move up the ladder.
We were assembled in the wihite-washed room at the pit bottom prior to setting off to T Unit and Harry said he wanted to introduce me to the Luke the stableman. I had never seen the stables before and was surprised to see a long white-washed, brightly lit area with stalls for about twenty five ponies,
The acrid smell of ammonia caught in my throat as I was introduced to Dandy a bay pony - shown how to put on his bridle, collar and hames, given a few instructions about my responsibilities, warned not to ride and sent on my way. This was a quiet little used unlit ventilation road to T Unit. With my lamp hung by it's crook on Dandy's collar this became our daily route to T Unit.
dusteater

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