BIDWELL Cecil - 1904 - 14/04/1904 – Age 14 - Wharncliffe Silkstone Driver. Wharncliffe Silkstone Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Died from meningitis caused by a blow but when it was received is not quite known. He told his father that he hit his head against some timber in the mine but made no report to anyone in the colliery.

BIGGANS James - 1903 - 30/03/1903 – Age 15 - Gilbertfield No.2 Coupler. United Collieries Ltd., Lanarkshire. While uncoupling hutches a race of hutches, coming up, crushed his head between them. He resumed work 7th April but took suddenly ill and died.

BIGGIN Charles - 1901 - 30/11/1901 – Age 40 - Shirebrook Roadsman. Shirebrook Colliery Co., Derbyshire. Deceased was engaged in adjusting the gauge of the rails near the shaft bottom and had left one rail projecting too far into the shaft. The descending cage struck the rail causing it to fly up and hit the deceased across the chest.

BIGGINS Thomas - 1906 - 30/05/1906 – Age 49 - West Mickley Shifter. West Mickley Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Deceased, during his first shift in the pit, took ill and died in a few minutes. There was no suggestion of any accident. He had complained during the shift of a pain in his chest. An inquest was held and medical evidence given that death was due to natural causes most probably heart disease, and so the jury found.

BIGGS Cornelius - 1907 - 31/12/1907 – Age 44 - Ashton Moss Collier. New Moss Colliery Co. Ltd., Lancashire Fall at face of working place from between clearly defined break and a face slip, both could be well seen. Deceased and another man had been pulling off coal, 3 feet wide, from a slip using crowbars, he was sounding the roof with his pick when it fell. Fall 8 feet long, 5 feet wide, 2 feet 9 inches thick. Three props were 5 feet from the face, timbering distance. (Average roof).

BILLEN Fred - 1906 - 10/11/1906 – Age 18 - Pwllfaron Collier. Morgan S Williams, Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road at face. A fall of roof measuring, 29 feet by 8 feet, by 2 feet 5 inches in thickness in the centre, tapering to nothing at the sides, broke away suddenly at a slant. There was no timber set under any part of it, the maximum fixed at this mine being 7 feet. Nine Feet Seam.

BILLET Albert - 1909 - 23/04/1909 – Age 45 - Albion Asst. pitman. Albion Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased and the pitman were on top of the cage and were about to clean out a water garland in the upcast shaft. As he stooped to pick up a hammer he fell off.

BILLETT Ammon - 1905 - 11/07/1905 - National No.2 Collier. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones. 16 Madeline St., Pontygwaith, buried at Liethrddu Cemetery on Saturday.

BILLETT Robert - 1905 - 11/07/1905 - National No.2 Haulier. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones. 22 Furnace Road, Pontygwaith, buried at Llethrddu Cemetery on Saturday.

BILLING J. - 1904 - 16/11/1904 – Age 47 - Orgreave Collier. Rothervale Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. He was working at the coal face, where he had recently set a prop, when the roof suddenly fell and injured him so severely that he died nine hours later. The fall disclosed a slip and two weight breaks which could not have been foreseen. Several props were displaced.

BILLIT Amon - 1905 - 11/07/1905 – Age 22 - National No.2 Collier. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed.

BILLIT Robert - 1905 - 11/07/1905 – Age 34 - National No.2 Haulier. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed.

BINDER Harry - 1907 - 23/07/1907 – Age 28 - Flappit Spring, Sandstone Quarry Barer. Joseph Clayton Ltd., Yorkshire. He and six other men were using a crowbar, nine feet in length, to remove a large block of stone from the face of the Quarry and, in doing so, disturbed a thin lift of stone higher up and, without warning, a large piece of stone, 11 feet long by 6 feet broad, fell away from the face to a clayey back, add killed the deceased and seriously injured one of the other men.

BINGHAM George - 1901 - 31/07/1901 – Age 55 - Bolsover Dataller. Bolsover Colliery Co., Derbyshire. Deceased expired suddenly in the mine and the verdict of the coroners jury was 'that he died from heart disease probably accelerated by the recent heat'.

BINGHAM J. - 1900 - 14/08/1900 – Age 34 - Monk Bretton Filler. Monk Bretton Coal Co., Yorkshire. Chain broke on engine plane and he was knocked down by tubs.

BINGHAM Oliver - 1909 - 20/04/1909 – Age 15 - Grassmoor No.1 Horse driver. Grassmoor Co. Ltd., Derbyshire. Deceased was in charge of a horse and four full tubs, and was allowed to ride on the crank. He appears to have fallen off and was run over by the tubs.

BINKLEY David - 1906 - 27/01/1906 – Age 42 - Sutton No.3 Stallman. Blackwell Colliery Co., Nottinghamshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was examining the roof after a shot had been fired, when the roof fell and killed him. The deputy was present at the time, and had examined the roof himself previous to deceased doing so. The deputy was injured by the fall.

BINNALL John - 1902 - 01/12/1902 – Age 54 - Coneygre No.9, Bunns Lane Pikeman. Jacob Vaughan, Staffordshire. Fall of roof (old gob) at working face in the lower portion of thick coal. The men were setting a post when the roof all broke up and they were buried. One of the bodies was not recovered until 3rd December, owing to the extent of the fall and the presence of gob. stink. 2 killed.

BINNS H.S. - 1902 - 01/08/1902 – Age 15 - Hartley Bank Hurrier. Flockton Coal Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Crushed when manipulating a full tub from the front.

BIRCH Henry - 1907 - 09/09/1907 – Age 37 - Dulais Labourer. Dulais Anthracite Collieries Co. Ltd., Brecon. Explosion of firedamp or coal dust. 3 killed.

BIRCH James - 1907 - 04/03/1907 – Age 33 - Ashton Moss Collier. New Moss Colliery Ltd., Lancashire. Fall at face of roadway from the ripping, he was making a hole in the floor for a footing for a prop to put up a stone freed at each side by slips, stone which overhung by 9 inches. Whilst in a stooping position the stone fell on to his shoulders. It must have been nearly down and ought to have been pulled being in the roadway it would have been ultimately ripped for height. (Average roof).

BIRCH John - 1905 - 14/03/1905 – Age 30 - Bradford Collier. Bradford Colliery Co. Ltd., Lancashire. Fall of roof at face from between two known slips, one prop would probably have saved his life. Died 29th March. (Good roof).

BIRCHELL George - 1908 - 11/05/1908 – Age 23 - Bargoed Collier. Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. He and two others were engaged widening the main dip to allow of an electric cable and some air pipes being carried down. The stone which fell might apparently have been got down but they decided to get some more coal out first and although it is alleged that it sounded solid when struck with a hammer they set three sprags against it. Probably the removal of some of the coal let it off, as there was a smooth or natural parting on the upper side of the stone, and a rough one or break at the back which could not be seen.

BIRD Robert - 1904 - 19/10/1904 – Age 22 – Prospect Drawer. Wigan Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Wigan, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was pushing a tub of coal up the slant road when a sudden weighting of the roof took place and he was fatally injured. It was a strong metal roof and had been safe considered safe previously without barring.

BIRD S. - 1903 - 02/12/1903 – Age 31 - Carlton Main Collier. Carlton Main Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Died 5th December. He was at the coal face when a stone burst off and fatally injured him. Cause two slips and a bump.

BIRD Samuel - 1905 - 11/07/1905 – Age 16 - National No.2 Collier boy. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed. 9, Hillside Terrace, Wattstown, buried at Llethrddu Cemetery on Saturday.

BIRD William - 1900 - 30/04/1900 – Age 29 - St. Helens No.3 Joiner. St. Helens Colliery and Brickworks Co. Ltd., Cumberland. Inspection made and inquest attended. He attempted to put a belt on to a pulley running at 200 revolutions per minute. This foolhardy act speaks for itself.

BIRD William Henry - 1904 - 19/05/1904 – Age 56 - Wyken Dayman. Wyken Colliery Co., Warwickshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was building a pack in the stall after setting extra timber when a large fall of roof killed him. His body could not be recovered until five hours later.

BIRKENSHAW Fracis Lesley - 1908 - 15/05/1908 – Age 56 - Hickleton Main Collier. Hickleton Main Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. A small quantity of roof stone and coal fell upon and cut his leg and bruised his back. Blood poisoning supervened and he died on May 26th.

BIRKIN Alfred - 1909 - 12/11/1909 – Age 32 - Dinnington Main Coal getter. Dinnington Main Coal Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. He was getting coal when a small piece of rock suddenly burst from the roof between the timber and the face and fatally injured him. The roof was very treacherous.

BIRKIN James - 1907 - 30/07/1907 – Age 37 - Apedale, Burley Collier. Midland Coal Coke and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Deceased was coal getting in a drift, in the Little Coal, where it is inclined at an angle of 40 degrees. As far as could be ascertained the lump he was pulling came off suddenly. He lost his footing and rolled down the drift, a distance of about 2 yards, the coal rolling over him. His spine was fractured and he died 4th Sept.

BIRKS Ralph - 1901 - 27/05/1901 – Age 35 - Talk o’th’ Hill Shaftsman. Talk o’th’ Hill Colliery Co., Staffordshire. Explosion of firedamp and coal dust caused by a gob fire. 4 killed.

BIRRELL David - 1902 - 11/09/1902 – Age 34 - St. Margaret’s, Whinstone Quarry Quarrier. Alexander Brunton and Sons, Fife. A shothole, 12 feet in length, had been drilled nearly horizontally at the foot of a face of whinstone 50 feet in height. It had been charged and fired three times to shake the rock after which the deceased assisted the fireman to insert a bulling charge of about 40lbs. of gunpowder. A Guta percha covered fuse was used but the shot hung fire and they were unramming it when it exploded killing the deceased instantly and severely injuring the other man.

BIRRELL John - 1906 - 20/08/1906 – Age 59 - Denbeath Shaftsman. Wemyss Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Deceased was employed, with others, enlarging a shaft from the bottom upwards and while sitting on the platform, consisting of two planks, fixing buntons he fell a distance of 14 feet injuring his head, and subsequently died from the injury.

BIRRELL Robert - 1901 - 15/02/1901 – Age 33 - Hill of Beath Oversman. Fife Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Suffocated by gases from an underground fire. 7 killed.

BIRT W. - 1903 - 27/02/1903 – Age 32 - Orgreave Rock ripper. Rothervale Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. Fall of rock in a road which he was enlarging. The rock which fell had probably been shaken by a shot.

BISH David - 1906 - 09/10/1906 – Age 14 - Gethin Collier’s boy. Crawshay Bros., Cyfartha Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof at face, coal and cliff, 14 foot by 11 foot by 8 foot thick, crushed out two pairs of timber and 11 props, fell and buried deceased. The collier, who was in charge of the stall, was setting a prop close to the face of the coal and had a very narrow escape. The stall was passing through disturbed coal and roof. Nine feet seam.

BISHOP Charles - 1902 - 31/01/1902 – Age 19 - Lady Windsor Coal trimmer. Ocean Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. While lowering three empty trucks to the screens three others, which he had not been secured, followed and crushed him against three under the screens.

BISHOP Edward - 1903 - 16/05/1903 – Age 24 - Tymawr Collier. Great Western Colliery Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall at face cliff, 11 foot by 4 foot by 14 to 33 inches thick, crushed four props out and injured the deceased so severely that he died in four days. The roof was disturbed and very jointy. Five feet seam.

BISHOP John - 1900 - 31/03/1900 – Age 19 – Foxes Bridge Asst. runner on. Foxes Bridge Colliery Co. Ltd., Gloucester. He ran a full cart on to a cage in a drop staple pit before he had made the brake fast and was crushed between the cage and the framework.

BISHOP John - 1907 - 02/12/1907 – Age 53 - Radstock Horse driver. Earl of Waldegrave, Somerset. Crushed on the surface between a journey of empty trams, which he was bringing back from the rubbish tip to Ludlows Pit and a journey of full trams, which was standing in a double parting or siding waiting to be taken to the rubbish tip. Apparently the full trams were standing near the crossing so that there was not sufficient space for him to pass between the full and empty trams. There seemed ample space between the rails of this siding 3 foot 4 inches except where the approach to the crossing leading to the points.

BISHOP Robert - 1906 - 06/08/1906 – Age 50 - Dalbeath Miner. Fife Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. A dook haulage endless rope system had just started, and the son of the deceased, by some means, was caught by the rope and drawn towards the wheel at the inbye end and deceased went to release his son and his leg was caught and crushed, apparently by the revolving wheel; he died from his injury on 24th September, 1906. The wheel was under water and not sufficiently fenced.

BISHOP Thomas - 1904 - 30/07/1904 – Age 15 - Wynnstay Haulage hand. Wynnstay Collieries Co., Denbigh. Inquiry made and inquest attended. Deceased was last seen previous to the accident with his hand on the full tubs as they were travelling with the endless rope haulage when he probably slipped as he was found fatally injured under the tubs.

BISSETT William - 1907 - 20/08/1907 – Age 22 - Braichycymmer Collier. Ffaldu Collieries Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. He was supposed to have fallen off the gun attached to a horse and loaded tram. He might have struck his head against a pair of low timbers under which he passed. No one witnessed the accident.

BITHELL John - 1905 - 17/08/1905 – Age 13 - Arley Yard Spare hand. Scowcroft and Co., Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was engaged working a steam hoist, on the pit bank landing, used for lifting pit wood from the ground and when speaking to a lad below he fell under the fence rail to the ground floor a distance of 24 feet and was killed. At the inquest it was recommended that an automatic fence be used in future.

BITHELL John jnr. - 1907 - 04/10/1907 – Age 27 - Foggs Drawer. Andrew Knowles and Sons Ltd., Lancashire. The men were ascending, one end of the cage got in the path of the descending cage at one corner, the collision caused the rope of the ascending cage to draw from the capping setting free the cage. Owen's Safety Catches did not hold, the cage with the ten men fell to the bottom and crashed through the wooden beams into the water in the dib hole, the cage wedged itself against the shaft and side, a few yards below the surface of the water. The conductors of wood, 5 inches square at each end of the cage, the horse trees or bearers were 5 inches square and 15 feet apart, all of pitch pine. All the shoes of the ascending cage were found to he intact in proper position after the accident. The cause of the accident was primarily a wood conductor broke setting free the cage, the clearance between the cages at the meetings was 3.5 inches, the overlap was proved to have been 3.25 inches at the corner diminishing to nothing at 2 feet 9 inches from the corner, length of cage 6 feet 3.5 inches. A secondary cause was the weakness of the rope capping which was one of the ordinary hooped ones. 10 killed.

BITHELL John snr. - 1907 - 04/10/1907 – Age 58 - Foggs Collier. Andrew Knowles and Sons Ltd., Lancashire. The men were ascending, one end of the cage got in the path of the descending cage at one corner, the collision caused the rope of the ascending cage to draw from the capping setting free the cage, Owen's Safety Catches did not hold the cage with the ten men, it fell to the bottom crashed through wooden beams into the water in the dib hole then the cage wedged itself against the shaft side, a few yards below the surface of the water. The conductors of wood, 5 inches square at each end of the cage, the horse trees or bearers were 5 inches square and 15 feet apart, all of pitch pine. All the shoes of the ascending cage were found to he intact in proper position after the accident. The cause of the accident was primarily a wood conductor broke setting free the cage, the clearance between the cages at the meetings was 3.5 inches, the overlap was proved to have been 3.25 inches at the corner diminishing to nothing at 2 feet 9 inches from the corner, length of cage 6 feet 3.5 inches. A secondary cause was the weakness of the rope capping which was one of the ordinary hooped ones. 10 killed.

BLACK Alexander - 1906 - 20/06/1906 – Age 30. Polmaise Nos.1 & 2, Archibald Russell and Co. Ltd. Stirling. Overcome by gas. He was found dead, under unusual circumstances, at his working place on Thursday morning. A fellow workman employed beside him went to the pit bottom to light his lamp and on returning to the working place, a few minutes afterwards, he found Black lying dead. There were no marks on the body and no indication of how death was brought about, but it is supposed to have been caused by an irruption of gas breaking out from the wall, close to Black's mouth and asphyxiating him. In order to clear up the matter, a postmortem examination of the body will take place. Deceased was unmarried and had only been a few weeks in the district. He belongs to Glengowan, Lanarkshire. A verdict of accidental death was returned . (Stirling Observer).

BLACK Alexander - 1906 - 27/04/1906 – Age 42 - Lumphinnans Miner. Fife Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Underground fire. 2 killed.

BLACK Andrew - 1905 - 23/03/1905 – Age 26 - Aitken Brusher. Fife Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Deceased was engaged putting a building on the low side of a level which had been brushed when a large stone fell away from between two lypes and killed him instantaneously.

BLACK George - 1908 - 28/03/1908 – Age 58 - Rampgill Lead Miner. Vieille Montagne Zinc Co., Cumberland. Fell down rise.

BLACK James - 1901 - 15/01/1901 – Age 40 - Bowhill Wheeler. Bowhill Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Deceased men were instantaneously killed by the sudden fall of about 70 tons of roof consisting of rock bands and fakes intersected by numerous lypes and joint's. The road was 9 to 10 feet in width and the roof was supported by bars 1 foot apart. Part of it had been repaired and retimbered on the previous night. It was inspected by Hamilton and the overman about an hour before the accident took place and considered in safe condition. 2 killed.

BLACK Richard - 1908 - 18/02/1908 – Age 27 - Portland No.5 Miner. Portland Colliery Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas causing an explosion and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands. 4 killed.

BLACK Robert - 1908 – 18/02/1908 – Age 51 – Portland No.5 Miner. Portland Colliery Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas causing an explosion and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands. 4 killed.

BLACK Thomas - 1905 – 24/01/1905 – Age 42 – Washington Stoneman. Washington Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died 25th January. Deceased was fatally injured and two other men seriously injured by part of an engine set of tubs running amain down a self acting incline and colliding with empty tubs standing near the shaft bottom, which crushed them as they were getting out of the cage. A main rope hauls sets of from 40 to 50 tubs from landings in the Low Main seam where the kip at the top of a stone drift, 140 yards long, dipping at the rate of 4 inches per yard to the Hutton seam where the tubs are caged. When the set arrives at the kip the incline breaker shouts to a rapper lad when enough and the rapper lad signals to stop to the engineman at the hauling engine, situated near the shaft in the Low Main seam, the breaker then knocks off the rope and both he and the lad insert sprags into the wheels of several tubs in the set which is then run down the incline in sets of 12 tubs. The regular breaker was absent and a waggonwayman had taken his place and had dealt with 15 sets before the accident, but appears to have allowed a set of 46 tubs to come too far and part of it got on the incline; he knocked off the rope and when he saw the set had gone too far uncoupled the last 18 tubs and 28 ran amain. These should have been stopped (a) by runaway switches which the breaker stated were in position to throw the tubs off the rails but failed to act, (b) by chocks a little further down which a driver had failed to place in position, and (c) by a pair of horns at meetings fixed on an axle next the roof to drop on pulling a lever. The breaker pulled the lever, before the tubs were past the horns, but they failed to drop as the wire was slack. The hauling engine was not provided with an indicator to show the position of the set but there was a mark on the rope.

BLACK William - 1903 – 09/11/1903 – Age 41 – Blairenbathie Miner. Fife Coal Co. Ltd., Kinross. The roof had fallen across the face and the deceased and his neighbour were employed to win it out but while clearing the debris, from the road head, a stone fell and struck him on the head. The injury was slight but he was unable to work much afterwards and died on 2nd August 1904. A post-mortem examination was made and at the fatal accident inquiry medical evidence was given that the death was due to the accident.

BLACK William - 1908 - 18/02/1908 – Age 17 - Portland No.5 Miner. Portland Colliery Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings, adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas causing an explosion and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands. 4 killed.

BLACK William - 1908 - 19/02/1908 – Age 28 - Dalkeith Engine attendant. AG Moore and Co. Ltd., Edinburgh. Deceased stood on top of a tub, to oil the gear wheels of a scraper as it was in motion and his clothes became entangled in the unprotected wheels and his left arm was drawn in and mangled.

BLACK William - 1909 - 12/02/1909 – Age 61 - Herdshill Labourer. Coltness Iron Co. Ltd., Lanarkshire. Deceased came from the prop wood stack, with a tub loaded with props to send it down the shaft and evidently he stumbled as he opened the door fencing the shaft, and fell down meeting the ascending cage on his way down.

BLACKBURN A. - 1903 - 20/03/1903. Cortonwood, Cortonwood Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. Died 25th March. Fall of roof coal in a working place. Cause two slips and neglect to set timber.

BLACKBURN George - 1902 - 01/07/1902 – Age 21 - Ryhope Shifter. Ryhope Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. He was lowering a sleeper on a road, and in doing so undermined a prop supporting the end of a pair of gears and thus let down a large stone which caught and fatally injured him.

BLACKBURN Joseph - 1903 - 25/11/1903 – Age 17 - King, Lea Green Pony driver. Sutton Heath and Lea Green Collieries Co., St Helens, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was driving a set of tubs, with a pony, and was in the act of unhooking his pony when he appears to have omitted to notice he was so near some others at rest and he got fatally injured by being crushed between the tubs.

BLACKBURN Joseph - 1906 - 02/02/1906 – Age 57 - New Oaks Dataller. Cammell Laird and Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. He and another man were repairing part of an engine plane, dipping 1 in 7 on which there was considerable weight. They had taken four empty tubs off the endless rope and filled them with stone on the full road, and were lowering the first one, which had two lockers in the wheels, leaving the other three with six lockers. They had got about four or five yards when the other three tubs followed and fatally crushed the deceased man. The hauling rope was on the tops of the tubs and it is probable in pushing the first tub under it the other three were disturbed. There are ‘jack catches’ on the road and the tubs should have been lowered as they were filled on to one of them or attached to the hauling rope with a lashing chain.

BLACKBURN Thomas - 1901 - 25/06/1901 – Age 21 - Whitburn Waggon attendant. Harton Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Inspection made and inquest attended. Deceased and another man were larking instead of attending to their work and did not hear an approaching waggon. On realising the danger the deceased pushed his mate to a place of safety but was unable to extricate himself in time.

BLACKETT John R. - 1903 - 15/12/1903 – Age 16 - Millfield Grange Putter. Millfield Grange Colliery Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. When bringing out the last tub of his shift it got off the way and displaced some timber and a quantity of soft blue stone fell and suffocated him.

BLACKHURST George - 1907 - 02/09/1907 – Age 19 - Talk o’th’ Hill Loader. Talk o’th’ Hill Colliery Ltd., Staffordshire. An empty tub let down a short engine plane in the Eight Foot Banbury, it left the rails about 4 yards from the bottom. The deceased came up to it, to lift it on, but immediately he disturbed it at the lower end it shot down and took him with it. The engineman had evidently let out nearly sufficient rope to let down the tub to the bottom and the slack rope lay in the dip until the deceased liberated the tub.

BLACKMAN James - 1901 - 14/11/1901 – Age 20 - Cwmbran Collier. Guest Keen and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of roof from slips in his working place which was not satisfactorily secured.

BLACKMAN William - 1905 - 05/07/1905 – Age 25 - Wearmouth Coal trammer. Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. The accident occurred at the Staithes or drops owned by the Wearmouth Coal Co. on the River Wear about 500 yards from the colliery. Two chaldron wagons had been emptied of coal and were being run back into the empty way, down a decline of 3/8 in per foot, when the deceased, who had been married only a fortnight, suddenly fell forward with his head between the wheels of the front wagon and he sustained injuries causing his death the same day. He is supposed to have had a fit.

BLACKMORE Albert - 1901 - 24/05/1901 - Universal Waller. Universal Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported upon by W Galloway Cd 947. 81 killed.

BLACKMORE John - 1903 - 18/02/1903 – Age 51 - Blaina Griffin No.2 Screenman. John Lancaster and Co., Blaina, Monmouth. When standing on the edge of a waggon his foot slipped and he lost his balance, in falling he struck his heal on the rail and received fatal injuries.

BLACKMORE Robert - 1906 - 16/10/1906 – Age 51 - Point Stone Quarry Engineer. ER Payne and Son Ltd., Gloucester. His clothes were caught, in some unexplained way, in a driving shaft 9 feet from the ground, belonging to the dressing machinery, and making 170 revolutions per minute. He was stripped naked and thrown to the ground in less than a minute, and died in 10 or 12. What he was doing at the time is not known, probably examining or oiling.

BLACKMORE Robert - 1908 - 08/01/1908 – Age 21 - Mosley Common Drawer. Earl of Ellesmere, Lancashire. Fall of coal from face of working place. Three sprags had been taken from the under-mined coal, the whole mass of coal was held by the fourth sprag, this the collier was dislodging, by standing 9 foot away and throwing a prop. Deceased stood watching the operation, he had three bars with props under each end between himself and the front of the coal. When the coal fell it knocked out the bar nearest (6 inches from the coal) and one of the props, 7 foot long, struck the deceased on the head fracturing his skull.

BLACKMORE William - 1901 - 21/03/1901 – Age 21 - Bold No.2 Labourer. Collins Green Colliery Co. Ltd., Lancashire. Inspection made. They were putting a water tank into the cage, about midnight, at the surface level and the deceased was asked to bring a torch lamp within the fencing. He came through the gate and apparently walked over the edge of the shaft at the open side and fell to the bottom. He had a lighted torch in his hand and there was an electric light close by.

BLACKMORE William - 1902 - 29/10/1902 – Age 63 - Cwm Cynon Labourer. Nixon’s Navigation Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof at face cliff 7 foot by 7.5 foot by 13 inches thick fell between the road posts. It was part of the ripping but had not been taken down. It was said to have been so strong. Six feet seam.

BLACKWELL Moses - 1909 - 14/10/1909 – Age 16 - South Duffryn No.1 Collier boy. Hills Plymouth Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Overtaken and run over by a full journey on a roadway, 7 feet wide and 5.5 feet high, and well provided with manholes, as he was making his way to the shaft.

BLACKWELL Thomas Edward - 1903 - 05/10/1903 – Age 23 - Grassmoor No.4 Horse driver. Grassmoor Co., Derbyshire. Deceased was riding on the crank in front of two full tubs when his head struck the roof and he was fastened there by the moving tubs. He was dead when found.

BLACKWOOD Edward - 1908 - 14/01/1908 – Age 51 - Rannoch, Whinstone Quarry Foreman. Black Bros., Renfrew. When lighting with a match, the tape fuse of a gunpowder shot, the charge went off.

BLACKWOOD Hugh - 1905 - 09/08/1905 – Age 15 - Dalquhandy No.1 Pony driver. Waddell and Son, Lanarkshire. He had gone into a working place for a hutch when the roof fell on him.

BLACKWOOD John - 1908 - 31/01/1908 – Age 27 - South Medmosley Putter. Owners of South Medmosley Colliery Ltd., Co.Durham. While riding outbye on a loaded coal tub his head appears to have caught the roof.

BLAGG Daniel - 1900 - 16/11/1900 – Age 67 - Langwith Dataller. Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co., Notts. Fall of roof. Deceased was preparing to set the boring machine, for the purpose of drilling a shothole in the return airway, when the roof fell and fatally injured him. He died on the 20th.

BLAGG Ernest Daniel - 1904 - 20/01/1904 – Age 21 - Woodside No.1 Holer. Shipley Colliery Co., Derbyshire. The lower portion of the coal seam fell upon the deceased while he was undercutting it.

BLAINES or BARNES James - 1905 - 11/07/1905 - National No.2 Sinker. United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones. 5 Wind Street, Ynyshir, married with eight children.

BLAIR Adam - 1908 - 07/10/1908 – Age 23 - Dundonald Contractor. Dundonald Collieries, Fife. Deceased was building the debris, blasted down from the roof, in the wall, and while doing so the roof fell upon him causing instant death.

BLAIR John - 1908 - 03/03/1908 – Age 35 - Giffnock No.2 Coal cutter. Giffnock Collieries Ltd., Renfrew. Fall of roof on road while taking off a projection from the side. The vibration to have been of the percussive coalcutting machine had evidently loosened the roof, which was not secured by crowns as it ought to have been.

BLAIR Joseph - 1905 - 29/12/1905 – Age 48 - Dunnanny Quarry Quarrier. John Smyth, Belfast, Ireland. Unramming a missed fire charge of gelignite, using an iron scraper, when the charge exploded. Twice before this attempt had the stemming been taken out in the came manner: three times had the attempt to fire the charge failed. No notice given of the accident. No notice given of the inquest.

BLAIR Nathaniel - 1906 - 03/04/1906 – Age 20 - Blairmuckhill Labourer. A and G Anderson, Lanarkshire. A boiler was being raised into position by screw jacks placed under the boiler and inside the seat and while doing so it tilted slightly, the deceased, who was working one of the jacks, made a rush at the opening to get outside, but was fatally crushed between the boiler and side of the brick wall of seat. Had he remained where he was he was perfectly safe.

BLAIR Richard - 1902 - 01/09/1902 – Age 21 - Gillcroft, Iron Ore Labourer. Wyndham Mining Co. Ltd., Cumberland. A short time after the other workmen had left the mine, he descended alone with stores which he intended to leave at a convenient place, near the shaft, and return immediately. His body was subsequently found in the sump and it was clear he had fallen from the eye or inset at which he had alighted. The shaft was fenced at the eye but the fence was defective.

BLAIRS George William - 1909 – 05/05/1909 – Age 26 – New Hem Heath Collier. New Hem Heath Mining Co., Staffordshire. Deceased was injured by a fall of Red Mine Tops or Bass, 2 feet 6 inches thick and 3 feet 6 inches long by 2 feet 6 inches wide. He was engaged in removing an old pillar of stone, 11 feet wide on the dip, left in workings about 20 years ago. On his way to work he was warned by the fireman that a piece of tops was bad and required pulling or timber setting under it before proceeding with any other work. He had only been in the place some 15 minutes when the fall occurred, he at the time being immediately beneath it. A pick and a ringer were afterwards found lying in the place but it is not known whether he was attempting to pull the lump or not. He died two days later.

BLAKE Charles - 1904 – 06/04/1904 – Age 30 – Houghton Hewer. Lambton Collieries Ltd., Co.Durham. He was hewing in a place loose at both sides and when hewing disclosed a slip and as there was running at right angles to it with partings like glass. A large fall took place and swamped timber out and killed him.

BLAKE Percival H. - 1906 – 25/07/1906 – Age 15 – McLaren No.1 Collier’s butty. Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. The collier carelessly pulled down a quantity of coal from the face while the deceased was in front of it, and thus brought about the accident.

BLAKELEY Joseph - 1906 – 16/01/1906 – Age 62 – Morley Main Carpenter. Morley Main Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. He was sawing a piece off a prop with a circular saw when the teeth of the saw caught the edge of a hard knot and caused the prop to fly out, and he was hit so violently in the chest that his breast-hone was fractured, and it pressed upon his heart and caused instant death.

BLAKEMORE Arthur Henry - 1906 – 15/05/1906 – Age 26 – Arley Dayman. Arley Colliery Co., Warwickshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was building a pack in a stall, and was standing in the goaf, when a large fall of roof killed him.

BLAKEWAY John - 1902 – 03/05/1902 – Age 30 – Merthyr Vale No.1 Mason. Nixon’s Navigation Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. While building a fresh crown to an old arch the centres gave way and the deceased was killed by the falling masonry.

BLAKEWELL Isaac - 1905 – 09/01/1905 – Age 43 – Grimethorpe Ripper. Carlton Main Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. He and another man were ripping the roof and setting bars where required. He had made a scaffold upon the top of a tub on which he was kneeling and in the act of withdrawing a drill from a shothole in the ripping, when without warning, a large piece of roof fell upon him and killed him instantly.

BLANCO Jose - 1906 – 20/01/1906 – Age 25 – Burnockhill No.1 Labourer. William Baird and Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. He opened the gate at the pit mouth, took a hutch off the cage, signalled the cage down and then pushed an empty hutch into the open shaft and fell after it.

BLANCOWE Frank - 1902 – 11/11/1902 – Age 31 – Myafaen Limestone Quarry Quarryman. Raynes and Co., Carnarvon. While standing on the ground trying to get loose stones down from a heap with a crowbar a large stone weighing about 30 cwt. rolled on to him and crushed him so badly that he died shortly after.

BLAND George - 1905 - 04/02/1905 – Age 15 - Boldon Driver. Harton Coal Co., Co.Durham. Deceased, who had worked 4 months underground and had acted as a driver for 6 weeks, left a flat sitting on the limbers of a pony drawing two full tubs. The road rose slightly outbye. He was found seriously injured about the head lying across the road behind his set to which the pony was still hung on and the tubs on the rails. There were props supporting crowns by the side of the road and within a few inches of the tub, and it was surmised he had allowed his head to project, possibly he had been looking back to see if the putters had come out, and was caught. The road was in good order. The Local Inspectors reported, after reciting the facts, "In our opinion the injury has been purely accidental. The boy getting his head bruised between tub side and timber but no certain evidence to show how it was done."

BLAND Robert - 1905 - 16/07/1905 – Age 34 - Bebside Fitter. Bebside Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. An extension of a main and tail rope engine plane had been completed in the Bensham seam and a trail set of empty tubs was being taken inbye but had not reached the new road when the tail rope, instead of running on one of the new hanging sheaves on the extension was running between the sheave and one of the iron hangers and a socket on the rope, unable to pass, caused extra strain which displaced a tail rope sheave at the beginning of the extension and the sheave and framework pulled forward drew props under iron girders supporting the roof and a heavy fall of stone took place and caught the deceased men who had stepped aside, near the sheave, while the trial set was run. The two hangers of the tail rope sheave, where the socket caught was bent outbye. The tail rope either at the time of the fall or immediately afterwards drew at another socket further outbye. The displaced sheave was 4 feet diameter and was placed with its axis vertical between a wood framework next the floor, the framework consisted of two pieces of timber 7 feet 8.5 inches high and 11 inches deep fixed 18 inches apart. One end of this framework was let into a pack wall and a prop was driven up between it next the pack the other framework was bolted to a stay set about 1 foot square in front of it and let a few inches into the roof and floor. The tail rope sheave, where the socket caught, was 4.25 inches wide and the space between was 4.75 inches. The two deputies were killed on the spot the fitter was taken out alive but he died the same day. The Local Inspectors were at the inquest. One of them being a relative of the deceased Henry Grand, his evidence was not taken the other stand he had examined the place and came to the conclusion that it had been a pure accident. It appeared that the Local Inspectors had examined the mine on the Thursday before the accident, and had passed the new sheave but had not noticed it particularly. 3 killed.

BLANNING Elijah - 1900 - 10/10/1900 – Age 39 - Greyfield Brancher. Greyfield Colliery Co. Ltd., Somerset. For some unknown reason he failed to get away after lighting a shot of Amvis and was killed.

BLANT Thomas - 1902 - 10/10/1902 – Age 56 - Pilsley Labourer. Pilsley Colliery Co., Derbyshire. Deceased was preparing to empty a tub of dirt on 3rd October when he rolled down the dirt-tip. He was subject to epileptic fits and it is supposed he had a fit and fell. There was no accident to make him fall.

BLANTON George - 1900 - 29/03/1900 - Clough Hall No.6 Driver. Birchenwood Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Crushed between tubs while sitting on first of a journey of tubs coming into shunt. He bent down to unhook tail chain and was crushed between the tub he was riding on and others standing in front. The pony was trotting.

BLATCHFORD George - 1906 - 24/08/1906 – Age 25 - Ferndale No.7 Trimmer. D Davis and Sons Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased was standing on a full truck, when the brakesman told him to get down, as he was about to let some empties down against it. Deceased said that he was right enough, and did not get down. When the empties bumped against the full one, deceased fell off on to the rail and was run over.

BLEAKLEY Arthur - 1901 - 08/07/1901 – Age 32 - Stoneclough Dataller. Stoneclough Coal Co., Lancashire. Explosion of firedamp probably lit at a candle while endeavouring to remove a large accumulation of firedamp by batting disturbing it by waving their waistcoats and piece of brattice cloth. Inadequate ventilation for want of sufficient ventilating power and by reason of airways being blocked.

BLEAKLEY Peter - 1907 - 04/10/1907 – Age 23 - Foggs Collier. Andrew Knowles and Sons Ltd., Lancashire. While the men were ascending one end of the cage got in the path of the descending cage at one corner, the collision caused the rope of the ascending cage to draw from the capping setting free the cage Owen's Safety Catches which did not hold, the cage with the ten men fell to the bottom, crashed through wooden beams into water in the dib hole, the cage wedged itself against the shaft side a few yards below the surface of the water. The conductors of wood, 5 inches square at each end of the cage, the horse trees or bearers were 5 inches square and 15 feet apart all of pitchpine. All the shoes of the ascending cage were found to be intact in proper position after the accident. The cause of the accident was primarily, a wood conductor broke setting free the cage, the clearance between the cages at the meetings was 3.5 inches, the overlap was proved to have been 3.25 inches at the corner, diminishing to nothing at 2 feet 9 inches from the corner, length of cage 6 feet 3.5 inches. A secondary cause was the weakness of the rope capping which was one of the ordinary hooped ones. 10 killed.

BLEDGE Alexander - 1908 - 03/08/1908 – Age 32 - Fergushill No.28 Bencher. Archibald Finnine and Son, Ayrshire. He fell over a fence at a mid-working and down the shaft, just after stepping off the cage after the overman. The fence was only 17.5 inches high.

BLENCH Ralph - 1900 - 13/07/1900 – Age 22 - Dunston Hewer. Owners of Dinston Colliery, Co.Durham. Inspection made and inquest attended. A shot had been fired but failed to bring down the coal and the deputy had instructed the deceased to hew it down. It is supposed he had improperly started to kirve again without resetting the sprags.

BLENKINSOPP J.D. - 1904 - 14/11/1904 – Age 21 - East Hetton Rolleywayman. Walter Scott Ltd., Co.Durham. He was oiling a haulage wheel when it was in motion and his clothes got fast between the wall and the fence and he was drawn in and killed.

BLENKINSOPP Robert - 1900 - 02/07/1900 – Age 62 - North Bitchburn Hewer. North Bitchburn Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died today from blood poisoning. He sprained his hand while at work or June 15th.

BLEWITT Charles - 1909 - 17/07/1909 – Age 39 - Marine Collier. Ebbw Vale Steel Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Septic pneumonia appears, from the medical evidence, to have supervened upon apparently a very slight injury to his knee through knocking it against a tram which he was pushing. He died September 22nd 1909.

BLEZARD Thomas - 1904 - 11/04/1904 – Age 19 - Habergam Drawer. Executors of Col. Hargreaves, Lancashire. Crushed by tub on drawing road. In a double road he was by the side of his tub instead of being behind and was run into by a full tub on the parallel road.

BLICK David William - 1905 - 02/01/1905 – Age 54 - Ball’s Green Limestone Miner. Andrews and Provis, Gloucester. Fall of stone about 3 feet square and 12 to 18 inches thick, from the roof where it showed considerable dislocation and open gullies between large blocks of stone. The examination of the place, under the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act, is unsatisfactory, it was left to the deceased, as the most experienced man at the mine where he had been employed many years.

BLOOMFIELD John - 1907 - 11/11/1907 – Age 54 - Ashington Hewer. Ashington Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Deceased was employed in longwall workings in No.5 Dip flat of the Low Main seam of the Duke pit. The seam is 5.5 feet thick and is overlaid by blue metal, it lies at an inclination of 5 or 6 inches per yard. The face advances in a straight line across the hill, and tubs are drawn up it by an electric motor. The tub road is protected by pairs of gears, and behind it, near the goaf, are two rows of chocks set off and on as the face advances from the tub road planks where middle props are set at right angles to it. The deputy was only 7 yards away when the accident happened and had ten minutes before he sounded the roof at the point and considered it safe nevertheless, a stone 6 feet long at right angles to the face and 21 feet wide on the average, with a maximum thickness of 1 foot 10 inches tell from the roof close to the coal between two planks, and killed deceased. The stone was half a horse back with a jack at one side and its upper surfaces damp and smooth. There was an ample supply of loose timber at hand. The Local Inspectors described the fall in their report and remarked ‘Plenty timber close at hand and the right length.'

BLOOR Thomas - 1901 - 05/07/1901 – Age 45 - Leycett Harrison & Woodburn Collier. Madeley Coal and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Large fall of roof in a drift during removal of pillars in the Hams and Rough 7 foot seams (worked together).

BLOUNT Isaac - 1900 - 24/07/1900 – Age 23 - Blackwell A Loader. Blackwell Colliery Co., Derbyshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was doing a stallman's work in taking out timber. He fixed a ringer and chain to a prop and then proceeded to knock it out with a hammer. He knocked the prop out and the roof fell and killed him.

BLOWER Arthur - 1901 - 14/12/1901 – Age 18 - Digby Loader. Digby Colliery Co., Nottinghamshire. He was working in the mine and suddenly expired. He died of 'heart disease' and no inquest was held.

BLOWER William - 1904 - 23/06/1904 – Age 21 - Bickershaw Dataller. Ackers Whitley and Co., Leigh, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. They were enlarging the shaft mouthing and when one of his fellow workmen was loosening a prop a small quantity of dirt fell, which caused the deceased to rush towards the shaft and he stumbled and fell down the pit and was killed owing to sufficient fences not being put to protect the shaft.

BLOY Daniel - 1901 - 04/02/1901 – Age 53 - Birley West Dataller. Sheffield Coal Co., Derbyshire. Run over by two empty tubs which had broken away from a train of 35 tubs while going down an engine plane owing to an obstruction on the line causing them to become uncoupled.

BLURTON William - 1903 - 16/05/1903 – Age 22 - Florence Asst. dataller. Florence Coal and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. The cage in which he was ascending the shaft got out of the wood guides and collided with the descending cage. The tacklers or cage chains of the ascending cage broke and it fell with the men to the bottom of the shaft. 2 killed.

BLY Martin - 1903 - 18/05/1903 – Age 48 - Grassmoor No.4 Stallman. Grassmoor Co., Derbyshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was withdrawing a prop from a waste when the roof fell on him. The prop was being drawn too soon and should have been left standing until the pack had been built up.

BOAKES Samuel - 1900 - 31/01/1900 – Age 26 - Conduit Jigger. Conduit Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Died 1st Feb. Thrown against roof by brake handle.

BOARDMAN Henry - 1905 - 18/09/1905 – Age 21 - Garswood Hall Drawer. Garswood Hall Collieries Co., Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. When filling a tub of coal, at the face, a piece of top coal capping two sprags fell upon him. It being a hard floor they appear to have neglected setting the sprags deep enough.

BOARDMAN Robert - 1900 - 02/08/1900 – Age 44 - Princess Contractor. Richard Evans and Co. Ltd., Haydock, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was a metalman contractor, and was waiting to go up the shaft. The hooker-on knocked for the cage and then left the shaft temporarily, to attend to the pit-bottom lamp, and when he was getting back he heard a scream the deceased having attempted to get in the middle deck of the cage when it was bring lowered and was fatally injured.

BOARDMAN William - 1903 - 07/08/1903 – Age 41 - Bickershaw Fireman. Ackers Whitley and Co., Leigh, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. Deceased was resting at a junction of four gateroads when a sudden crush of the roof took place capping the bars and fatally injuring him.

BODDY John - 1902 - 12/05/1902 – Age 26 - Birley East Blacksmith. Sheffield Coal Co., Derbyshire. He died on the premises of the mine and at the coroner's inquest it was found that his death was caused by natural causes namely, 'syncope'.

BODEN William - 1908 - 27/06/1908 – Age 32 - Silverwood Ripper. Dalton Main Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. He was helping to remove ripping dirt, displaced by a shot, and relaying the tram road when a bump occurred, and caused a fall of stone which caught and killed him.

BODLE Benjamin - 1906 - 09/11/1906 – Age 44 - Bond’s Main Header. Staveley Coal and Iron Co., Derbyshire. Fall of roof or ‘pot-hole’ in a heading. The place was timbered with bars set 5 feet apart, but the weight of the material filling up the pot-hole broke a bar, and it fell on the deceased, killing him.

BOGAN Peter - 1901 - 29/10/1901 – Age 26 - Woodfield Hewer. Bolckow Vaughan and Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died from erysipelas followed by gangrene alleged to have been caused by injury in the mine but there was no evidence of his having met with any accident.

BOHILL John - 1903 - 18/11/1903 – Age 34 - Seaton Delaval Shifter. Seaton Delaval Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Died 19th November. An arch was being packed with stones in the open spaces between it and the roof and sides, a man on a scaffold, 8 feet from the floor, was packing the higher parts and the deceased was on the floor level also packing when a stone lifted the man on the scaffold which broke in his hands and a piece of it fell and grazed deceased's head causing two wounds. Deceased did not appear much worse and spoke of returning to work next day but during the night he became unconscious and died. A post mortem revealed the existence of serious injury to the brain.