Hi,
I came across your site whilst researching my great grandfather, Wilfrid Robert Eley; thank you for taking the time to put this information together.
We believe the photo of Wilfrid was taken sometime in the 1930s.
The page
http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/individual/Bob_Bradley/Bk-6/B6-1986-P19.html
contains the entry under Hucknall No 2 of:-
Wilfred Robert Eley (64) fall of roof 5/8/1949
I would interested to know if you have any information as to the source of this entry. My own research and family tradition held it that the death was due to being crushed by moving tubs.
I have two clippings from the Nottingham Evening Post that appear to corroborate this:
Nottingham Evening Post
6 August 1949:
Hucknall Pit Worker's Death
"Wilfred [sic] Eley, 64, of 10, William Street, Hucknall, a conveyor transfer joint attendant at Hucknall No. 2 Colliery, has died at Nottingham General Hospital, from multiple injuries received when he was knocked down by tubs at the pit yesterday."
Nottingham Evening Post
8 August 1949:
Inquest On Hucknall Miner
"The Nottingham Coroner (Mr W. S. Rothera) to-day opened and adjourned until next Monday the inquest on Wilfrid Robert Eley, 64, a coal miner of 10, William-street, Hucknall, who was fatally injured while working at Hucknall No. 2 Colliery on Friday.
Evidence of identification was given by his daughter, Mrs. Rushby, of 4a, Albert-street, Hucknall."
Unfortunately, I have been so far unsuccessful in trying to track down any records of the inquest, or any reporting of the outcome.
Just for the record, the correct spelling of his name was Wilfrid (two I's).
5 Oct 2015
I was able to visit Hucknall library over the weekend and looked at some microfilmed copies of the Hucknall Dispatch. The following is the report it contains on the inquest.
Hucknall Dispatch
Friday 19 August, 1949
Trapped Between Wagons - Inquest On Hucknall Miner
At an inquest at Nottingham on Monday on Wilfred [sic] Robert Eley (64), miner, of 10, William Street, Hucknall, who died following an accident below ground at Hucknall No. 2 Colliery, the jury retuned a verdict that death was due to injuries received when he was accidentally trapped between two wagons.
Joseph Arnold, a main line corporal, of 58, Titchfield Street, Hucknall, said that a wagon he had left in a swilly — a depression in the roadway where wagons are left for safety — had run away. He had never known this to happen before.
Frank Severn, electrician, of 2, Parker Street, said that he was told by Arnold that a wagon had run away, and went to a junction point. There he found Eley trapped between two wagons, one of which had come from the direction of the swilly. The pit, he added, was well lit, but there was considerable noise.
Richard
See Also Alan Beales Entry |