Fatal Accident No 18

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 16-01-1915

Inquest at Carlton

An inquest was held at the public offices Carlton, on Thursday afternoon regarding the death of Joseph Reed, aged 14, who lived at 40, Worth Street, Carlton, and prior to May of last year, had worked as a coupler at Gedling Colliery. Harry Reed the father, said his son came home on Monday 4 May, last year and complained of having slipped on the plates , falling against the rails and injuring his right hip. He went to work the following day, but had to return and had not been again since. He began work at the pit in February of last year. Dr. Knight said the boy’s right hip was bruised and swollen, and he complained of much pain. The injury developed and a month ago the pain extended to the back of the neck and head, leading to screaming fits, dilation of the pupils of the eyes, and other disturbances of the system. He became unconscious during which state he died of Tubercular Meningitis. His opinion was that the injury he sustained at the pit caused the development the Tuberculosis. Dr, Vartan, the colliery Doctor, who had also examined the boy agreed as to the cause of death. A verdict of “Death from Meningitis as a result of the accident “was returned.

Fatal Accident No 19

Herbert Teggart

An Inquest was held at the Chesterfield Arms, Gedling, on Herbert Teggart, a ganger aged 16 who lived at 64, Lenton Street, Hyson Green. There was present Mr. H. Knight (Agent and manager of the colliery) Mr. Frazer (H.M. Inspector of Mines) Mr. Elliott Smith (Solicitor) and Mr. L. Spencer (Nott’s Miners Association). Mrs. Alice Ann Allen of 64, Lenton Street, Hyson Green, mother of the deceased said she had been married twice. Her son had told her on several occasions how dangerous life was at Gedling, only recently he had a narrow escape from a fall of coal, and two years ago had an arm broken in the pit. Her second husband was in the Navy, and she also had three sons in the Army. The deceased had been a good lad, and was respected by everyone, she only had one boy at home now. Herbert Smith aged 19, of 23, Belvoir Street, Mapperley, said he was a corporal on No 96 district of the Gedling pit. At about 5-10pm. last Tuesday afternoon Teggart was about to fetch his pony which had started off and there was a sudden crash. He thought at least seven tons of bind fell and deceased was completely buried, whilst the pony was partly covered. Witness shouted several times, but got no reply, and then went and fetched assistance. Three quarters of an hour elapsed before they could extricate the lad, and he was then dead. Witness was only about a yard away from where the fall occurred. The deceased was one of the best gangers on the road. Witness denied that the tub had caught a bent or broken prop. Ernest Fox, a trap door opener, of Quernaby Road, Mapperley aged 14, also gave evidence. Albert Burgin, of 3, Plains Road Mapperley, said he was a deputy in 96 district, and inspected the roof near where the accident happened at 5 pm. when everything appeared to be safe. In his opinion the fall was caused by the liberation of the sides which made the middle give way. It was a sudden pressure caused by the strata giving way in the process of nature’s movements. In summing up the Coroner (Mr. D.Whittingham) said the Gedling pit was a well managed colliery though a trifle unfortunate. Everything possible should be done to make collieries safe, as companies must not kill men, for the sake of making money. The cause of the accident appeared to have a sudden force of nature, which had moved the strata. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and the foreman of the jury (Mr Harry Thompson) expressed sympathy with the relatives. Mr Elliott also expressed sympathy with the mother, and said the case was particularly sad, as the family appeared to be doing a great deal for King and Country. On viewing the body of her son, Mrs. Allen sobbed piteously, and frequently broke down during the course of the enquiry.

Fatal Accident No 20

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 22-05-1915

Death follows a joke.

A verdict of “Accidental death was returned at a Gedling inquest on Saturday last concerning the sad end of a miner named James Frederick Walker, aged 27, who was killed at work in the Gedling pit on Friday. The deceased lived at Northumberland Street, Nottingham. A stallman at the pit named James Simpson, of Chandos Street, Netherfield, said Walker was new man, he came to assist witness who asked him his name and the deceased replied in a jocular manner “ I’m Jim the colliers dying child“. A few seconds later, in spite of being warned by the witness, Walker went past some timber, and had just repeated the remark when, without warning a portion of the roof, weighing about five tons fell, and buried him up to his neck. It took several men an hour and a half to extricate him and he was then dead. In reply to questions, witness said there had been a break in the roof in this particular stall a day previous, and he particularly requested the deceased not to go past the timbering. As stated above the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”

Fatal Accident No 21

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 09-10-1915

The coal jumped at Gedling pit.

James Ayris of 54 Leonard Street Bulwell whilst engaged in holing at Gedling Colliery on Thursday of last week was thrown back into a sitting position and sustained a broken leg in addition to internal injuries, in consequence of some coal which had suddenly “jumped”. Ayres who was 58 years of age was conveyed to the Nottingham General Hospital where he received medical attention, but he died in the hospital on Sunday. An Inquest was held by the coroner on Tuesday when a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by the jury.

Fatal Accident No 22

South Nottinghamshire Echo Wednesday 03-02-1917

Gedling pit accident

During the time he had been an Enginewright for 24 years he had not had a fatal accident at the Gedling pit. Such was the statement made by James Cauldwell, at an inquest held on Wednesday at the Chesterfield Arms, Gedling, concerning the death of Robert Foster, a labourer, 50 years of age who resided at 53, Gedling Road, Carlton, and who fell down a Hoist on Monday last, whilst at work at the pit. Mrs. Sarah Foster said her husband had been employed at Gedling pit for about a year. He had made no complaints about his work .Dennis Dandridge; a fellow labourer said the deceased was running empty tubs to a cage. He fell with one of the tubs and was killed by striking the ground with his head. Witness could not account for Foster falling. He ought to have waited for the cage to be in position; witness remarked “I think the tub overcame him” and said “he had not known a tub to fall this way before”. The fence must have stuck as if it had worked it would have prevented anything falling. James Cauldwell the Enginewright thought the grease on the bars at the cage had frozen and prevented the bars going into their place. For 24 years he had not had a fatal accident in his department. The jury returned a verdict that deceased was “Accidently killed by injuries sustained by falling down a hoist.”

NB. Mr Cauldwell must have employed at other mines as Gedling had only been in production for 13 years at the time of the accident.

Fatal Accident No 23

Nottingham Guardian Thursday 03-05-1917

Bulwell Miners Death - Effects of an Injury Three Years Ago

A miner’s death following an injury received at the Gedling Pit on 14th April 1914 was subject of a Coroner’s inquest at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Commercial Road, Bulwell, yesterday. It concerned Joseph Waldrom, 63, of Lime Street, Bulwell who was in hospital for some twelve weeks after being injured by a fall of bind, with a fractured thigh and other injuries. After eventually recovering he was unable to resume his customary occupation but drove a stationary motor for a short while. This however proved too much for him, and he had to be medically attended until his death on the 28th April. A Verdict of death from “Heart failure consequent upon the injuries” was returned.

Fatal Accident No 24

Nottingham Guardian Monday 18-02-1918

Crushed by Wagons - Arnold Man Fatally Injured

An inquest was held at the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday morning concerning the death of George Stevenson, aged 63, of Slate Buildings, Calverton Road, Arnold, who died from injuries received while at work at Gedling Colliery. The evidence showed he was at work on the pit bank, moving wagons, when he was caught between two of the heavy vehicles and seriously crushed. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

Fatal Accident No 25

Daily Express Monday 03-08-1918

Gedling Colliery Fatality

An inquest was held on Saturday on Joseph Barson, a miner of Hilton Road, Mapperley, who was killed, while working at the coalface at Gedling Colliery, by fifteen hundredweights of coal falling on him. A stallman told the Coroner the deceased was working near the coal, which had been holed out, and was supported by two sprags. Suddenly witness heard a rumbling sound and turning round saw that the coal had burst over the sprags. Deceased was in a doubled up position and the coal was resting on his shoulders, his spine had been broken. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

Fatal Accident No 26

South Nottinghamshire Echo W/E. 30-03-1918

Crushed in the pit

Albert Simmons 14, of 26, Gladstone Street, Carlton, employed as a pony driver at the Gedling Colliery, was leading a horse and four empty wagons through one of the “gates” of the pit on Tuesday March 19th when two or three tons of bind fell and buried him alive. A huge lump of rock also struck him on the head and killed the poor lad. Mr. D. Whittingham, held an inquiry at the public offices Carlton on Friday. Mr. Frazer, represented the Home Office, and Mr. Bird, was present on behalf of the Gedling Colliery Company. Jack Simmons said his son had only been employed for two months at the pit. Reuben Branson, 4, Bells Terrace, Portland Street, Daybrook, a corporal at the Colliery said he followed Simmons five minutes after he left with four empty wagons, and discovered a fall on the road had taken place and he could not get to Simmons. He at once obtained assistance. Deputy Robert Watkinson, St Austins Drive, Carlton, said he found it impossible to get past the fallen bind, and receiving no reply from Simmons, he commenced to remove the dirt, and found the lad between the horse and the first tram. The boy was dead. A fall of between two or three tons had knocked the “lagging” down. Witness had previously inspected the place and considered it safe, as it was properly timbered. The jury returned a verdict that Simmons was “Accidently crushed and killed at Gedling Colliery by a fall of roof”.

Fatal Accident No 27

Nottingham Journal and Express Monday 23-06-1918

12 Tons of Roof - Terrible Experience of Miners in Gedling Pit

In connection with the colliery accident at Gedling Pit, an inquest was held on Saturday, on William Sleigh, 33, of 23, Byron Street Arnold. It was stated the deceased was a butty stallman, and had been a miner for twenty years. A fellow workman said Sleigh, and another man named Steven Hough of Calverton Road. Arnold, were “ripping” early in the morning when a fall of rock estimated at twelve tons occurred. When liberated Sleigh was found to be dead and Hough severely injured. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

NB In June 1918 Mr Hough was awarded the Nottinghamshire Miners Medal for Bravery.

Fatal Accident No 28

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 24-08-1918

Dangers of the Mine

A Carlton miner named Fred Drury, aged 21, and living in Dale Road, was killed while working at the Gedling Colliery on Monday morning. At the inquest it was stated that the deceased was a corporal, and while giving some instructions to some boys a piece of stone fell from the roof, he was severely injured. This fall was alleged to have been caused by a pony attached to some wagons coming into contact with a prop which supported a girder, the latter was dislodged and the roof collapsed. Drury was conveyed to the bottom of the pit but died on the way. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by the jury.

Fatal Accident No 29

Nottingham Journal and Express Tuesday 29-07-1919

Gedling Fatality - Miner Who Was Struck By Falling Girder