The Migration of Mining Families to the Kent Coalfield between the Wars, comes to Belgium

Today was a very special day because Volume 6, Number 1 of the journal of the Oral History Society , 1978, the one with the article -

The Migration of Mining Families to the Kent Coalfield between the Wars, by Gina Harkell.

Thumped and struggled thru the letter box

‘Each to his own, ‘ my husband said, off my joy.

I sent my cheque this time last year.
After three months I e-mailed to ask what had happened to my journal?

No reply and my hopes slowly seeped away. But I was too hasty – possibly,the postman had walked it to Belgium, taking odd jobs on the way.

I cant publish it here, copyright . But I have listed names of miners and wives quoted - if you are looking for ancestors check the list linked here, and if that’s not enough information -e-mail me and I’ll send you the relevant quote. Then you’ll know if the journal is worth the 25 pound and 12 month waiting list!

Conditions in the pit( miners early this century made a distinction between a pit which could only be reached by a shaft, and a mine that could be walked into,by their lights Snowdon was a pit not a mine - my blog is misnamed) and the dissatisfaction in Aylesham in those early years were worse even then I thought- but that’s for another post.