大象传媒

My brother Jack Allard was in the home guard, nearby we had a prisoner of war camp, one of the prisoners escaped and my brother was picked with three other men from the home guard to search for him. They were sent down to Pipe Yard Bridge as the escaped prisoner had been reported seen there.

My brother and other guards were told to surround the yard and given guns, although there was no ammunition in them.

There were some railtracks near to the yard and one way they went through Riddings to Ironville and Pye Hill, the other way they went to Codnor Park. It was believed he took the route to Codnor Park. A film was made of this escaped prisoner of war it was called The One That Got Away.

Jack wanted to join the air force but he worked at Pye Hill pit and wasn't allowed. They issued him with a little badge to say "volunteered but not accepted".

The Bevin Boys came to work at my brothers pit, most of them hadn't wanted to join the army. They lived in a hostel at Alfreton. David Neepiera manufacturer, moved into the premises and it was used as a factory after the war.

When the war finished the Bevin Boys left and they were replaced in the pits by Polish, Ukranians and Latvians

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