Regarding Gershom Marshall, accident from fall of coal at Bilsthorpe colliery 18th June 1936.
As it is such an unusual name, I think it might be the same person who drove the van at Bilsthorpe colliery when I was there, however, he did not start at Bisthorpe untill about 1967, having spent the rest of his working life at Welbeck colliery.
I remember him telling me that in the hand got coal days he was working with a chap who was struggling to free a large lump of coal with a crowbar, and said to him "let me have a go" and as soon he started, the lump fell on to his feet, that could be the accident in question.
I have a copy of his obituary.
See also Mansfield General Hospital
MR. G. W. MARSHALL
(Warsop)
(Chad Newspaper, 22nd May 1975)
The funeral took place yesterday week of Mr. Gershom Willoughby (Gush) Marshall (62), of 63 Mount Crescent, Warsop, who died the previous Friday in Mansfield Hospital.
The Rev. P. Dill conducted a service at Mansfield crematorium chapel before cremation.'
Born at Huthwaite, Mr. Marshall moved to Warsop as a young boy. Afterwards he lived at Welbeck Colliery Village for 35 years before returning to Warsop 20 years ago.
Mr. Marshall worked underground at Welbeck Colliery from the age of 14 until about eight years ago when he moved to Bilsthorpe Colliery and worked as a van driver and in the garage.
During World War II he served in the Home Guard.
In his younger days he was a member of Welbeck Carnival Band. He was interested in all sports, and one of his hobbies was breeding budgerigars and canaries. He was interested in gardening until his illness.
He leaves his wife, one daughter, two sons and eight grandchildren.
Mourners were Mr. and Mrs. R. Tipple, daughter and son-in-law: Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Marshall, sons and daughters-in-law; Karen Tipple, Kim Tipple, grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. H. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. L. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. M. Marshall, brothers and sisters-in-law: Mr. and Mrs. A. Antcliff, sister and brother-in-law: Mr. and Mrs. F. Mapletoft, Mr. and Mrs. R. Mapletoft, Mr. and Mrs. D. Mapletoft, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. G. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. H. Priestley, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mrs. V. Turner. Mrs. D. Chadwick. Mrs. C. Monk. Mrs. K. Dobb, nieces; Mr. F. Yorston. Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Tipple, Mr. and Mrs. S. Dove.
Representing Bilsthorpe Colliery were Mr. W. Roberts. Mr. A. Knighton. Mr. D. Redman and Mr. H. Turner.
Representing the National Union of Mineworkers and Mr. C. Tuck were Mr. E. Butler and Mr. T. Butler. Mrs. Boame represented Bilsthorpe Colliery canteen staff. Sister Thorpe represented Bilsthorpe Colliery medical staff.
Mrs. A. Marshall, wife, was unable to attend because of illness.
Floral tributes were from the above and also from Karen Kim Kerry. John, Paul, Jonathan, Richard, Tracy, grandchildren; Elsie and John; Doll; Ada and Family; Pen Jack and Family; Edna Bas and Family: Mr. and Mrs. Weatherbed; Mr. R, Moakes; Ethel and Sid: Sylvia, Alan and Frances; Gerty and Tommy; Mr. and Mrs. H. Parrott. Mr. and Mrs. Clark: Mr. and Mrs. Nickless; Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson; Mr and Mrs. Ward; Mr. and Mrs. Marter; Friends. Workmates and Management, Bilsthorpe Colliery.
Arrangements were by G. A. Townroe & Son.
Mr. Gershom Marshall
(Nottingham Evening Post, Tuesday 16 June 1936)
(Alan Beales)
A fall of coal at the coal face at Bilsthorpe Colliery, which trapped and fatally injured a Huthwaite miner, was the subject of an inquest held at the Nottingham General Hospital by the City Coroner, Mr W.S. Rothera, this afternoon, when a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. The victim was Gershom Marshall, aged thirty one, a stall man, living at 19, George Street, Sutton road, Huthwaite, and he died in the General hospital seven or eight hours after the accident happened in the early hours of Thursday morning, just before Marshall was due to go up the shaft. Mrs, Muriel Marshall the widow, said her husband had worked in the pit ever since he had left school. He was on the night shift last Wednesday, and the next morning she heard of the accident in the mine. John Bullock, of 6, Cul de Sac, Bilsthorpe, a companion who was working in the same stall as Marshall, said the accident happened at 5. 50 a.m. Marshall told him he was going to set a prop, clear up a bit and then get ready for going home. Describing the conditions of the coal face, witness said it was a straight face, ready for the cutter. Everything was in perfect order, and there was plenty of timber. About three tons of coal fell and Marshall was trapped under a piece weighing about a ton. Replying to Mr. A.H. Steele, Inspector of Mines, the witness said that Marshall had his back to the coal face and was just dragging a prop into position when the fall occurred. John Bagguley, of Garage Yard, Farnsfield, who was in charge of the stall, said he had never known an accident in similar circumstances before. The face seemed all right. The usual precautions taken at the coal face to prevent a fall was to set sprags but in this case there was no need for such sprags for the face was straight. William Renshaw, of Bilsthorpe, also gave similar evidence, and when Mr. Steele asked him if he did not think it wise, even if the face was straight to use sprags, He replied that he did not think so, props had already been set. Replying to the Coroner, the witness said he should have set strays if he thought the wall was unsafe. Marshall was a conscientious man and he would have done the same. The examination showed the wall to be safe. Mr. Steele: But it wasn’t safe. There is often a few inches overhanging, and this is the second accident at the pit in a short time. I want you to make the wall even safer. The Coroner pointed out that the question in this case was whether three experienced miners were satisfied concerning their safety. Mr G.A. Spencer, of the Notts Miners Industrial Union, who represented Marshall’s workmates, said he agreed with the inspector that overhang sprags should be set, but it was a moot point how far they should sprag remembering a coal cutter had to pass along the face.
Mr Marshall is on the Bilsthorpe Memorial. Bilsthorpe Mining Museum may have more detail on him.
See David Redman Page |