Compiled by Samuel. T. Stewart Sept 2014 from various resources.

Transcription

1 A list of fatalities in local Coal Mines between 1851 and 1955 including - Staunton Colliery, Heath End Colliery, New Lount Colliery, Coleorton No.1, 2 and 3 Colliery s, and Peggs Green Colliery) Compiled by Samuel. T. Stewart Sept 2014 from various resources. Prior to 1850, there were no systematic methods of recording mining deaths. After c.1950, details of fatalities have generally not been released, for data protection reasons. This record is intended to serve as a memorial to those brave men who worked in dangerous conditions to provide coal for their country and fellow countrymen. This is intended to be a living document, which can be added to, modified or corrected, as more information comes to light. We are grateful for information included in the Workmen s Roll of Honour document researched and presented by Ron Goacher. Names listed in the national data base of mining deaths and injuries compiled by Ian Winstanley which is now incorporated in the Coal Mining History Resource Centre website have been included. Fatalities are only attached to a particular colliery where we are relatively sure of the information. Towards the end of the document, a list of fatalities at Coleorton Colliery s, are shown as being under either Coleorton No.1 or No.2 colliery s until further research is carried out to identify which colliery the deaths actually took place at. Although the Califat pit was apparently just within Swannington Parish, it was known as Coleorton No. 2. Colliery Samuel T Stewart August 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without first seeking the written permission of the author. 1

2 New Lount Colliery Photograph probably taken c.1930, based on the size of the Spoil Heap Little in the way of records for fatalities at New Lount Colliery seem to be available, but what we have found to date are listed below. The following report taken from Hansard Feb 4 th 1929 confirms 3 deaths in 1929, but with no names appended. It is also recorded earlier that a man fell to his death from the pit bank, but no further information is available about this:- Mr. Kelly asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention had been called to the accidents involving loss of life and serious injury which have recently occurred at the New Lount Colliery of the Leicestershire Colliery and Pipe Co., Ltd; has he made any investigation into this matter; and is he satisfied that reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent these accidents? Commodore King - I assume that the hon, Member refers to the New Lount Colliery, Newbold. During the last 10 months, five accidents involving three deaths and injuries to three persons have been reported from this colliery. Each of these accidents has been investigated, and there is nothing to indicate that any of them was due to negligence on the part of the management. In so far as the accidents appear to have been avoidable, precautions have been taken to prevent recurrence. Edward Williams Thought to be the first miner killed at New Lount Colliery. Joseph Robinson Age: 52 Date: Dec 2 nd 1935 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands On Dec 2 nd 1935, Joseph, of Bauble Yard, Thringstone reported to his deputy an injury on his right hand, which had been cut by a stone. He worked a few shifts afterwards, but when he visited his doctor, he was ordered to Loughborough Hospital as septic problems had developed. He eventually died of blood poisoning originating from a septic hand. An inquest was held at Loughborough and he was buried on May 29 th

3 Bernard Rennocks Date: Nov 3 rd 1933 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands Fall of roof Edward Marshall Age: 41 Date: Buried on Nov 13 th 1941 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands James Henry Cowell Liquorish Age: 36 Edward had just got a catch prop into position, when a large stone weighing about a ton came from the roof and struck him on the head. He left a wife. Date: Nov 13 th 1941 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands Andrew Law Ford Age: 41 Responding to his countries call for more men to increase the coal output, he was killed by a fall of a large stone only 3 weeks after he had returned to work in the pits. He left a wife and family Date: October 1953 Occupation: Under manager Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands William Eaton Age: 46 Accident caused by fall of stone. Mr. and Mrs. Ford had come down from Scotland and were settling down when this calamity happened. He was cremated at Leicester. The inquest also took place at Leicester. Date: March 22 nd 1955 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands Fall of roof Ralph Ernest Liquorish Age: 55 Date: Feb 18 th 1957 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby East Midlands 3

4 Coleorton No. 3. Colliery (Bug & Wink) John Ward Age: 19 Date: Jan 19 th 1878 Occupation: Holer Fall of coals whilst wedging them down. William Horne Age: 20 Date: Feb 5 th 1881 Occupation: Loader Fall of roof whilst loading coal. Frederick Curtis Age: 20 Date: June 22 nd 1889 Occupation: Loader Benjamin William Johnson Age: 14 Had left his work, and with other boys went to bathe in the colliery reservoir and was drowned. Date: Jan 18 th 1890 Occupation: Bank Lad The boy had dropped his pick from the bank on the railway rails. He went to fetch the pick and was crushed between two railway wagons. 4

5 Frederick Allen Philips Age: 22 Date: March 31 st 1890 Occupation: Loader Harold Fern Age: 21 Fall of roof. He stood too near some coals whilst watching the stall man get them down. The coals knocked out a prop which was supporting the roof, and the roof fell upon the deceased. Date: Jan 15 th 1891 Occupation: Driver Jim Robinson Age: 13 Whilst coupling two full tubs, the pony started, and the deceased was crushed between the full tub and the roof of the roadway. Harold Fern died on Jan 16 th at 1.55 am. Date: May 24 th 1895 Occupation: Incline Boy Joseph Springthorpe Age: 27 The deceased was attempting to ride on a set of fall trams upon an inclined roadway and fell in front of the train. He was breaking the rules of the mine. He died the same day. Date: June 14 th 1897 Occupation: Stallman John Edwards Age: 44 Fall of roof. Deceased was using a bar to pull coal from the face and when the coal fell, a portion of the roof came down and killed him instantly. Date: June 13 th 1898 Occupation: Roadsman A set of 4 full tubs broke away from the endless rope going up an incline and running back struck the deceased who was working on the roadway. He died next day. See next page. 5

6 Section of newspaper article regarding the death of John Edwards which is fully transcribed below. An inquest was held at the home of Isaac Bakewell, at Swannington on Thursday, touching the death of John Edwards a collier, at the Coleorton Pit. Mr. Hewitt, H.M. inspector of mines was present. - George Edwards, a greengrocer, at Coalville, stated that the deceased, his father, was 42 years of age. On Monday evening, after he had been brought home, he told witness he was done for this time, and in reply to an enquiry how it happened, he said I was putting a roller box in the empty road side when I heard a set coming. I thought they were empty ones, and with getting out of the way my lamp went out, and it was a full set instead of an empty one. That was all he told me. He died that night. - Wm. Elliot, aged 15, said he was at work in the pit on Monday, and was bunging i.e., walking in the tubs and holding the tongs which hold the tubs to the rope. The rope was always running. About He was taking some full tubs up the incline, and had travelled a little way, when his tongs struck against a sleeper, and the tubs did not give over running straightaway, and then when they were running back, the force snatched the tongs out of his hand. The tubs ran back into the siding, and witness shouted to Edwards. The tubs ran back, and ran over the drag and the stop-block and knocked Edwards down. Witness was riding on the tubs when they left the siding, but not when the tongs caught the sleeper. There were several places in the dip, where the rope ran over the sleepers, and witness got off before he got there, and was walking by the side of the tubs when the tongs caught. He had had his tongs in catch before, but not enough to stop. - In reply to Mr. Hewitt, witness said the tongs were alright, and not out of repair. If the drag did not act or the train jumped over it, there might be a runaway. - Joseph Hill, aged 13, said he coupled on the trucks which Elliot took away, and he put a drag on the last truck. - Jesse Armson, manager at the colliery, said in reply to the inspector, that as both the drag and the stop block had failed in this instance, he would suggest a block of wood to protect the pegs? Usually a drag either held the tubs up or threw them off. - The jury found that the deceased was killed by accident, and that there was no negligence on the part of the deceased or the men and boys working with him. They recommended that the drags provided for the trucks on this incline should be longer, and furnished with a forked end. They also expressed the opinion that the boys who had given evidence were not old enough or strong enough for the work they had been called upon to perform. 6

7 John Marsden Age: 71 Date: Feb 3 rd 1899 Occupation: Stallman George Otter Date: March 19 th 1905 The deceased expired at home three weeks after receiving a slight injury in the mine. An inquest was held, when the jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes, as proved by a post mortem. Run over by tubs on March 11 th 1905 William Rossell Age: 19 Date: May 2 nd 1910 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. On May 2 nd 1910, William came home from his shift at the colliery, and said that he had caught his arm between a coal tub and the coal face, causing a scratch about three quarters of an inch long. He reported the accident, and was advised to see a doctor. On May 20 th, his leg began to swell, and he was unable to walk. He gradually got worse, and was removed to the Leicester Infirmary, where he died on June 5 th after having an operation. An inquest was held at the Leicester Infirmary, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death caused by blood poisoning, following infectious wounds to the right arm. Chopping out under coal face Working on face 7

8 Charles Marshall Age: 23 Date: Dec 11 th 1910 Occupation: Shifter Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co David Gardiner Age: 51 The deceased and another were engaged in repairing a gate road. They had taken out a low bar, and set another after ripping about half-a-yard of roof, and had ripped far enough to make room for a second bar a yard further along when a fall occurred above the timber, and reeled the new bar and an old one set three weeks previously. Charles Marshall and William Birch were on road repair work, when a fall occurred. Birch freed himself and was attempting to free Marshall when a second fall buried the two men almost up to their armpits. Birch freed himself once more, but Marshall was still trapped, and Birch tried again to free him. Marshall was nearly free when a third fall completely buried Marshall, and partially trapped Birch by his legs. A miner called Witham was on his way from the coal-face, and Birch shouted to him. Both were trying to release Marshall, when a fourth fall occurred. Witham rushed to get more help, while Birch carried on with his efforts to free Marshall. Within five minutes, Witham returned with extra help; after approximately half an hour Marshall was released, but he was dead. As a result of this valiant rescue attempt, William Birch was awarded the Edward Medal (second class bronze). See the book entitled A History of Coleorton and the Locality for more details on the Edward Medal Date: Dec 29 th 1910 Occupation: Incline man Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. The deceased and a lad were taking a set of 11 empty tubs, clipped fore and aft, inbye along a haulage road dipping 1 in 14. The cause of the accident was not definitely ascertained, but from the position in which the deceased was found, relative to those of his lamp and cap, it appeared probable that he had been riding on, or between the empty tubs, and that his head came in contact with a low portion of the roof, causing him to loose his cap and lamp, and that in endeavoring to reach the signal wire to stop the set, he was caught and knocked down by the out coming loaded set which ran upon him, became derailed, and caught the empty set. Deceased was killed, and the lad who accompanied him, was severely injured. Riding on the tubs was forbidden. 8

9 Thomas Lord Age: 32 Date: Aug 19 th 1911 Occupation: Stallman Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. The deceased was ripping in the gate road, 5 or 6 yards from the coal face, when, without previous warning, a part of the roof 12ft. Long, from 2 to 3ft wide, and 2ft. Thick, fell from two unseen converging slips, killing him instantly. He left a wife and 4 young children. Thomas was the brother of Nathan Lord. Nathan Lord Age: 30 Date: April 25 th 1912 Occupation: Stallman Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co James Bailey Age: 50 The deceased was travelling along the endless rope haulage road to work, and, when nearing the end of it, a large stone displaced a stretcher and fell upon him from a height of 7 feet, and killed him. The rail track had been lifted several feet so that the roadway was in solid stone. Some coal was being worked some distance away, and there was a slight movement in the strata. Brother of Thomas Lord. Date: Nov 15 th 1917 Occupation: Collier Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. A roof fall caused a compound fracture of the skull, 2 broken ribs, and a compound fracture of the left thigh. He left a wife Ellen and 7 children. The inquest was held at the home of Police Constable Jones in Thringstone. 9

10 Samuel Matchett Date: Dec 18 th 1918 Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co.? Samuel Robert Fretstone Age: 21 Date: Jan 27 th 1919 Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. Crushed by wagons on the surface James W Sharpe Age: 21 Date: May 2 nd 1927 Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. Fall of roof Samuel Walker Age: 51 Date: May 19 th 1930 Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co. Crushed by tubs 10

11 Coleorton No.1. Colliery (California) John Williams Age:? A Boy Date: Oct 19 th 1851 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Fall of coal in shaft John Mason Date: March 30 th 1852 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Fall of tubs John Lakin Age:? A Boy Date: Dec 3 rd 1853 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Blow from the handle of the windlass - appeared in Charles Morton s, mines inspection report. Robert Lakin Date: April 12 th 1854 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Fall of roof Joseph Horne Age: Boy Date: Jan 28 th (20th?) 1853 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Fell down shaft - Appeared in Charles Morton s, mines inspection report. 11

12 Henry Watson Date: Jan 28 th (20th?) 1853 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Thomas Jeffcote Fell down shaft - Appeared in Charles Mortons, mines inspectors report Date: May 21 st 1855 Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker Falling down the shaft Herbert King Age: 28 Date: July 21st 1869 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: Messrs Worswick & Walker On July 21 st 1869, there was an accident in the gate road of the pit. Herbert had just sat down to eat his breakfast, when a stone weighing more than a hundredweight, fell from the roof onto his neck, forcing his head between his legs, and causing a fracture of the lower part of the spine resulting in paralysis below the injury. Although there was no hope of him surviving, every attention was paid to him, though gradually he began to sink and eventually he died on Sept 13 th 1869 from exhaustion, and bed sores arising from the injury. The inquest was held at Thringstone on Wednesday Sept 15 th He was buried on Sept 16 th

13 Coleorton No.2. Colliery (Califat) - Also known as Alabama Pit or Windmill Pit John Hutchinson Age: 28 Date: May 30 th 1863 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: William Worswick? John Hutchinson fell down the shaft of the pit, which was 130 yards in depth. The Saturday, June 6 th edition of the Ashby News reported that nearly every bone in his body was broken. The inquest into the accident was held at the Fox Inn, Thringstone indicating that Mr. Hutchinson was from the village of Thringstone. He had been married for 15 months and had buried his only child a few weeks previously. Henry Clements Age: 16 Date: Oct 8 th 1863 Occupation: Pony Driver Colliery operated by: William Worswick? Harry Clements, Thomas Bird and J.Rose were killed, when water broke in from the former Limby Hall mine. Thomas Bird Age: 41 Date: Oct 8 th 1863 Occupation: Deputy Colliery operated by: William Worswick? Harry Clements, Thomas Bird and Jeremiah were killed, when water broke in from the former Limby Hall mine. Thomas Bird left his wife and their 10 children destitute overnight. See the book entitled A History of Coleorton & the Locality for further details, under the article on the Woolrooms. 13

14 Jeremiah Rose Age: 40 Date: Oct 8 th 1863 Occupation: Carpenter Colliery operated by: William Worswick? Harry Clements, Thomas Bird and Jeremiah Rose were killed, when water broke in from the former Limby Hall mine. In 1858, the mines inspector, John Hedley, advised W. Walker (operator/ owner) to drain the water from old workings, so as to work Califat towards Limby Hall. In 1863, William Walker had retired, and passed the plans for Califat onto Bailey. Both he and his assistant Lewis, were aware that a heading was approaching old workings in the region of Limby Hall. Water suddenly appeared in a stall, but they were not particularly concerned, but arranged for the coal face to be attended to, but unfortunately, an old heading 37 yards from an old engine pit was breached, and there was an inrush drowning out the workings. Henry Clements, Thomas Bird, and Jeremiah Rose who are listed above, were all killed. Bailey was subsequently prosecuted by the mines inspector for negligence, in failing to consult plans for old workings. 14

15 Coleorton No.1. Colliery (California) or Coleorton No.2. Colliery (Califat) N.Whyman Age: 30 Date: June 18 th 1861 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker Fall of roof T. Webster Age: 33 Date: Nov 2 nd 1862 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker Fall of roof Thomas Saddington Age: 60 Date: Jan 30 th 1867 Occupation: Horsekeeper Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker. Crushed by carriage in shaft William Cooper Age: 25 Date: April 6th 1869 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: William Worsick Run over, tub upset George Lawrence Age: 40 Date: Oct 27 th 1870 Occupation: Collier Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker Fall of roof rock William King Age: 33 Date: Feb 7 th 1872 Occupation: Collier Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker Fall of roof insufficiently timbered 15

16 William Leyburn Age: 47 Date: July 13 th 1872 Occupation: Stonegetter Colliery operated by: Messrs Worsick & Walker Fall of roof Charles Hall Age: 13 Date: Nov 20 th 1872 Occupation: Driver Colliery operated by: Checkland & Co.???? Knocked down by a horse and run over Peggs Green Colliery The London Gazette, Jan 10 th 1860 Notice is hereby given, that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Thomas Bostock, John Price, William Kidger, John Knight, Benjamin Walker, and William Worswick, under the style or firm of Bostock, Price and Co., and sometimes called the Peggs Green Colliery Company, or under any other style or firm whatever, has been this day dissolved by mutual consent - dated the third day of December John Waldram Date: Aug 12 th 1853 Colliery operated by: Bostock and Co. Fall of roof. Jarvis Marshall Date: Aug 23 th 1853 Colliery operated by: Bostock and Co. Fall of roof. Frederick Barkby Date: Nov 2 nd 1854 Colliery operated by: Price and Co. Fall of roof. 16

17 Staunton Colliery (Newbold) John Lakin Age: 60 Date: Oct 6 th 1886 Colliery operated by: John Lakin Choke Damp William Lakin Age: 30 Date: Oct 6 th 1886 Colliery operated by: John Lakin Choke Damp George Lakin Age: 35 Date: Oct 6 th 1886 Colliery operated by: John Lakin Choke Damp John Stewart Age: 14 Date: Oct 6 th 1886 Occupation: Pony Driver Colliery operated by: John Lakin Choke Damp On Oct 6 th 1886, an accident occurred at Staunton Harold Colliery because of a combination of a complete lack of practical knowledge and disregard for all rules and regulations by the management, when re-opening old workings, with the result that four persons including John Lakin, owner (aged 60) and his two sons William (aged 30) and George (aged 35), plus a pony driver named John Stewart (aged 14) who were all overcome by choke-damp. The ventilation system was deficient in every respect, and all the necessary precautions required, such as making adequate bore holes, were neglected. The Lakins are all buried, along with their mother and wife in the Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery, Griffydam. Joseph Stinson Age: 36 Date: Feb 6 th 1890 Colliery operated by: William Richards & Elizabeth Lakin? Fall of roof, shaft bottom. 17

18 William Stenson Age: 63 Date: May 28 th 1891 Colliery operated by: William Richards & Elizabeth Lakin? Fall of coal Heath End Colliery Opened c closed 1881 Thomas Noon Age: 30 Date: Sept 15 th 1877 Colliery operated by: John Lancaster & Co Explosion of powder William Mear Age: 27 Date: Oct 3 rd 1877 Colliery operated by: John Lancaster & Co. Fall of coal Joseph Hewitt Age: 24 Date: 1880 Colliery operated by: John Lancaster & Co. Fall of roof in stall 18