Ukranian miners - UK winter 1947

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

14 years ago

Received the following enquiry from a BBC researcher. Can anybody assist with any information and, although a long shot, photos?

Quote:

I hope you can help I am working on the latest series of “Heir Hunters” on BBC1 which follows the work of probate researchers who trace the beneficiaries to estates when people have died without leaving a will. Often the people we look into have fascinating histories and personal stories and it is these that we are interested in covering on the programme. We’re presently filming a case regarding an Ukranian gentleman who lived in a displaced person camp at the end of the Second World War and was conscripted to work in the coal mines in Mansfield. I would be very grateful if you could let me know if you have any images of Ukrainian workers at work in the coal mine and in particular any images that document the harsh winter of 1947 in the UK when demand for coal rocketed and lots of men were recruited to work in the mines.

I hope you can help and look forward to hearing from you soon,

Email address (posted with permission) [email protected]

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

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AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

The obvious place to start is Caphouse, they may have something themselves or suggest where to try - I seem to remember some material relating to the winter of 47-48 and refugees from Eastern Europe working in the mines around them on display.

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

Rechunga
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

Sounds like Westward Ho, my father was part of this 3 year out of the camp, down the mine scheme.

derrickman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

When I started on land rigs for a company based in Nottingham in the late 1970s, the drilling manager was one of these Central European ex-PoWs.

They would do anything to avoid being sent back to the USSR, for good and sufficient reason.

''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

Big Pit published a booklet of oral history interviews with foreign workers recruited to UK coal mines in late 1940s and 1950s a couple of years ago, entitled 'Not All Poles?' It featured interviews with a wide range of Europeans; can't remember whether Ukranians were included but tthey might well have.

Imageo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

I spent a couple of weeks in a B&B at Shap in the mid 1970s. IIRC the owner was Ukrainian and working at a gypsum mine not far away (the name escapes me) - possibly where he came from. Surname was Bracka from memory.

Not sure that helps the cause much though.

I'm a Geo

'There's a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness.'

higgsjane
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

14 years ago

Thank you very much for this suggestion.

Kind Regards

Jane