Hi
I hope you can help.

I am trying to find some information about my great grandfather Walter James who was a shunter on the railway and who I believe was killed in an accident at the colliery in Worksop around 1913.

Any information about the accident would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

Yvonne Williams
Sent from my iPad

Fionn regarding Walter James killed 1913 at a pit at Worksop.....There are several pits such as Manton, Shireoaks, Firbeck

I have no knowledge of him and neither does Alan. However it does not mean to say that with further research if possible his name may appear. However there is mention of him being a shunter on the railway. This could indicate that he was a railway worker and not a colliery worker which may explain why he has not been found on our data bases as only colliery personnel are noted.

Bob Bradley

His name was David Beech and died at Manton pit 09 Jul 1981.

I would appreciate any information you have or any contacts you could give me in relation to what happened who was there and if I could see copy's of any documents.

Many thanks.

Hi Alan
My grandfather Harry Atkins was killed at Orgreave Colliery in 1929, it would be nice to see him added to a database as there seems to be no other NCB record of him.

I was born at Orgreave, descended from a long line of coal miners on both sides of the family going back 140 years, my Dad Eric worked at Orgreave pit for 33 years, he took early retirement shortly after the strike ended having been a deputy for the last 12 years.

I have attached his death certificate.

Harry died aged 47 at the Silkstone Pit bottom, Orgeave. He was crushed by the decending cage. The inquest report for Harry is held at Sheffield Archives, fortunately for me the disclosure rules were recently reduced from 100 years to 75 years, alas it’s just an entry in the coroners book showing that there was a jury and witnesses but no other details or names. The only press report was the day after his death in the Sheffield Star “Harry Atkins was killed last night at Orgreave Colliery”, but thanks for pointing me to Doncaster Archives; I’ll certainly be visiting in the next few weeks.

I’ve been researching my family history for 15 years and have uncovered some amazing facts, my maternal grandmother was Harriet Dobson from Scholes just outside Rotherham, her Uncle, Ernest Dobson a miner come poacher was dubbed the Jubilee poacher in the local press when he achieved 25 prosecutions for said offence, my research over subsequent years has shown he went on to amass 71 convictions in total, the fact that Harriet's grandfather was the gamekeeper for the earl of Wentworth on who’s land he poached has made me smile.

I have been unable to find a death record for Ernest so I wonder if maybe they made him just disappear?

My Great Granduncle John Dobson of 70 Scholes, Rotherham a byeworker was killed at Scholes Colliery in a roof fall 6 November 1894.

He was buried 9 November 1894 Holy Trinity Churchyard, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham.

His parents John Dobson and Elizabeth Ardron who are in the same grave are my 2nd Gt Grandparents.

This information is already published on the http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=ds 
Regards Roger

Hi Fionn,

Thank you for the wonderful resource.

I had been doing some family research and thanks to you I have found my Grandmothers first husband, Joseph Bacon who died in a pit accident in 1932.

We had thought that it was at Clifton Pit but thankfully we now know different. We knew that he swapped shifts and that he had died quite horribly.

I can remember asking my Grandma (Mary Jane Bacon in the article) when I visited his grave with her when I was little (probably around 1974) about him. I didn't get much of an answer about Joe, apart from she loved him but did learn a lot about how hard her life was, trying to work, bring up my uncle etc until she met my Granddad.

There is a minor error though. The address was (and the house still stands) 7 Campbell Grove, not Campbells Grove.

Somewhere, we know that there is some paper work from the Nottingham Evening News that also coincided with a whip around by the people of Nottingham that helped tide my Grandmother and uncle over. I think that her Son by Joseph has that (Maurice). I remember seeing it when we cleared her house after she died (good innings 1907 to 1991) and my Granddad came to live with my parents, another ex-Gedling miner who lived to be 87. Pretty good for an ex-face worker that.

Again, thank you very much I have found the site fascinating as most of my family (both maternal and paternal) were all down various pits across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Best Regards,

Aaron Todd

Hi,

I was wondering if you could please help me if you know of any site that lists deaths in the pits.

A great uncle of mine died in the pits in Burton Upon Trent
22 Dec 1929, sadly that is all we know, don’t even know the pit name.

His name was Arthur Roe born 15 Sep 1912

Thanks in advance

Diane

I wondered if you had any information about a Thomas Newton who worked at Wollaton Colliery circa 1958 – he would have been 24 years old then. The only information we have is that he worked there in 1958. I realise it’s a long shot but any information would be a blessing.
 
Kind regards
Vivien – Rosemarie’s cousin.

Dear Alan, my G, G, Grandfather is listed as being killed at Thrybergh Hall Colliery 9 Dec 1899 under a roof cave in, his name is Abraham Bamford, thought you could add it to your database.
Harry.

Kilnhurst Colliery, formerly known as either Thrybergh or Thrybergh Hall Colliery, was situated on the southern side of the village of Kilnhurst, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.

Hi I really like the idea of honouring the forgotten miners. You have my great grandfathers details listed but they are incorrect. William Henry Pickersgill died in January 1915 at Wrenthorpe Colliery, Wakefield. He was only 35 when he died. He was crushed by buffers when trying to load a truck. There was some really tragic deaths it was horrendous. I hope you don't mind me emailing you and keep up the good work.

This is the one and only photo that exists of William and I would guess his age at around 30 but it's hard to tell on old photos. I know the church where he is buried but unfortunately he hasn't got a head stone as his family were too poor. I have nowhere to go to lay flowers etc. It's a real shame that he hasn't got anything with his name on it to commemorate him.

Kat Falkingham

Thank you very much Kat, I have updated your great grandfather's details.