A List of Fatalities in Local Coal Mines Between 1851 and 1955 Including
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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 New Lount Colliery 1924 – 1968 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 District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: 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 1936. 2 Bernard Rennocks Age: ? Date: Nov 3 rd 1933 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: Fall of roof Edward Marshall Age: 41 Date: Buried on Nov 13 th 1941 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: 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. James Henry Cowell Liquorish Age: 36 Date: Nov 13 th 1941 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: 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 Andrew Law Ford Age: 41 Date: October 1953 Occupation: Under manager Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: 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. William Eaton Age: 46 Date: March 22 nd 1955 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: Fall of roof Ralph Ernest Liquorish Age: 55 Date: Feb 18 th 1957 Occupation: Miner Colliery operated by: Leicestershire Colliery & Pipe Company, Ashby District: East Midlands Reason for fatality: 3 Coleorton No. 3. Colliery 1875 - 1933 (Bug & Wink) John Ward Age: 19 Date: Jan 19 th 1878 Occupation: Holer Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: Fall of coals whilst wedging them down. William Horne Age: 20 Date: Feb 5 th 1881 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: Fall of roof whilst loading coal. Frederick Curtis Age: 20 Date: June 22 nd 1889 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: Had left his work, and with other boys went to bathe in the colliery reservoir and was drowned. Benjamin William Johnson Age: 14 Date: Jan 18 th 1890 Occupation: Bank Lad Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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 Frederick Allen Philips Age: 22 Date: March 31 st 1890 Occupation: Loader Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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. Harold Fern Age: 21 Date: Jan 15 th 1891 Occupation: Driver Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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. Jim Robinson Age: 13 Date: May 24 th 1895 Occupation: Incline Boy Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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. Joseph Springthorpe Age: 27 Date: June 14 th 1897 Occupation: Stallman Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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. John Edwards Age: 44 Date: June 13 th 1898 Occupation: Roadsman Colliery operated by: Checkland and Co. District: Ashby-De-La-Zouch, Leics Reason for fatality: 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 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 8.45. 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.