A Bevin Boy's First Doodlebug

This is the story of a Bevin Boy who lived in Sussex and was posted to a coalmine in Yorkshire, called Hickleton Main, known worldwide for their brass band.

I came home on leave one Xmas time, arrived at King’s Cross Station then went outside and saw a snack bar, so I decided to have a cup of tea. As I received my tea an air-raid warning went off, so I went outside to see what it was all about. There was a noise like a group of motor-bikes going past then there was complete silence.

The next thing I was on the ground as a paper-seller had pushed me over. I started to tell him off, when there was an almighty BANG. I said “What the h--- was that?” He looked at me and said “Where have you been? Don’t you recognise a doodlebug when you hear it?”

I said I’ve never heard of doodlebugs before so he said if you can hear it it’s OK, but if it stops get your nut down quick!

When I got home in Sussex I was woken up at nights with these bugs flying on their way to London. I must say I was glad to get back down the mine after my leave.

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