Sneyd Colliery disaster
Over 1,000 miners at Victoria colliery, Biddulph, will be able to enjoy a hot cooked mid-day meal, or a mid-night meal down the pit and every working shift from next Monday.
Fines and special costs totalling £8 2s were imposed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr. Macgregor Clarkson) at Burslem, on Albert Henry Jones aged 21, of 14, Edge St. a colliery loader who was summoned on three counts for failing to present himself for work at Norton colliery.
All the bodies of men and boys, who lost their lives in last Thursday’s explosion at Sneyd colliery No4 pit, Burslem, have been recovered.
Photograph of two miners having their first meal below ground. (There is a series of Photographs in the Weekly Sentinel. (No Pit named)
At Tunstall Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court today, Isaac Baggley of 13, Greenhill Road, Cornhill, Norton, was fined a total of £6 with £3 3s costs, for failing to present himself for work at Norton and Biddulph collieries. The fines were in respect of failing three times to present himself for work.
Two miners were taken to hospital today through injuries while working in the pit. They were Mr. Joseph Scully aged 18, of 46, Moran Rd. Knutton, whose head was trapped while loading at Kent’s Lane colliery, Silverdale. The other man was Mr. Frank Kemp aged 42, of 9, New Rd. Madeley, who suffered injury to his pelvis while working at Madeley colliery.
Having been given assurance by the men that they will work, Mr. Macgregor Clarkson aggreed for a fortnight, "to see how they respond" the case is in which two brothers are to comply with a direction that they return to work, and work regular as packers at Hanley Deep pit. They were Harold Potts aged 34, and his brother Samuel Potts aged 36, both single of 14, Cope Street, Milton.
A £4 fine and special costs of £2 3s was imposed at Fenton Stipendiary Court today on Samuel Bake aged 18, of 11, Arthur St. Longton, a haulage hand for failing to present himself for work at Fenton colliery. (Glebe colliery)
A concert was held in Goldenhill cinema in aid of the Sneyd colliery disaster fund. The Lord Mayor attended.
A total of 43 collieries in North Staffordshire which employs 20,899 men have canteens to provide sandwiches, meat pies or snacks, and two collieries which employ 2,404 men have canteens to provide full meals.
A sentence of three months imprisonment was passed at Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police Court yesterday, on William Edward Fagan, aged 20, of 99, Albermark, Newcastle, for leaving his employment without permission, on or about September 19th 1941.
Pleading guilty at Tunstall Stipendiary Court yesterday to three summons for failing himself for work as a collier at Sneyd colliery, Mr. Percy Rawlings of 24, Crossley Rd. Stanfields, Burslem, was fined £1 for each offence and £1 8s costs in each case.
In a statement by the Lord Mayor at the full Council meeting the dependents/victims of the Sneyd colliery disaster had not been fully established, an estimate was given yesterday that there were 32, of the victims were married and left widows and one a widower. There would be at least 35, children under 15, and 24, of the victims were not married; 8 left widowed mothers, and 13, had parents still alive, and in one case neither of the victims parents were alive, and in two other cases, investigations are still being carried out.
At the annual meeting of Stoke on Trent branch of the Mining and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; it took place in a kind of brains trust, club members asked questions which were discussed and answered by colleagues.
The Sneyd colliery disaster fund will benefit by £65 as a result of an effort by the A.R.P. Wardens of West View, Dimsdale, Wolstanton. 12th February 1942 Page5.
Mr. G.W. Huntbach the City Coroner concluded his inquiry into the explosion at Sneyd colliery on the 1st January this year. He returned a verdict of "accidental death by explosion in a coal mine". The only survivor Mr. Robert Edward Gibbons gave evidence. His story is on this page with all the coroners’ conclusions.
Mr. Irving Keeling aged 52, a miner of 7, Copes Ave. Longton, was taken to the N.S.R.I. with a fractured pelvis sustained when he was struck by a falling roof at Florence colliery.
At Tunstall Stipendiary Court yesterday, Mr. William Broad aged 41 of 32, Unwin Street, Chell, was fined £3 with 14s costs on each of three summons of for failing to present himself for employment as a packer at Chatterley Whitfield colliery; a total of £11 2s in all. Mr. Harold Bancroft aged 22, of Sant St. Birches Head, Hanley, employed by the same colliery as above, was Fined £3 with 14s costs on each summons a total of £8 2s.
Sentencing to two months hard labour was passed at Newcastle under Lyme County Police Court on Harold Allman aged 18, of Lindops Lane, Madeley, Leycett, who pleaded guilty to leaving his employment without permission of the National Service Officer.
Fined £2 plus 28s costs in each of three cases a total of £10 4s was imposed on Robert Frederick Brown aged 28, single of 35, James Street, Packmoor, in respect of not complying with essential work at his employer as a collier at Hanley Deep Pit. He pleaded guilty.
Mr. Andrew MacLaren (Lab. Burslem), asked the Secretary of State for Mines, in the House of Commons, "what further investigations is to be made into the explosion at Sneyd colliery, and whether he is considering a need for action to strengthen further precautions after the collieries generally."
Organised function by Regular, and Special Constables at Longton, in aid of the Sneyd Pit Disaster Fund, more than 1,100 attended the function.
A verdict that the cause of death was a fractured spine, by a fall of roof, on Mr. John Thomas James Whitehurst aged 53, of 65, Hillport Ave. Porthill, who received fatal injuries in an accident at Wolstanton colliery on Tuesday.
Mr. Henry Brookes aged 33, of 58, Vine Street, Hanley, was working at Berryhill colliery, yesterday afternoon. when sustained a severe injury to both legs through a fall of dirt.
Sneyd colliery Disaster Fund is expected to benefit in excess of £150, as a result of a very successful variety show.
The funeral took place at Chesterton yesterday, of Mr. John Henry Tellwright aged 66, of 9, Johnson Street, Chesterton, he held various positions in North Staffordshire, including, Secretary, of Birley Brach, of the Miners Federation for twenty years, and also North Staffordshire Coal and Ironstone Workers Permanent Relief Society.
The development of the miner’s safety lamp was traced in a paper given to members of the Stoke-on-Trent Branch of the Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at the North Staffordshire Technical Collage.
"Mining Subsidence Test Case." Important results at Newcastle under Lyme Town Council meeting last night. There is a full report on this page and the back page of this edition.
There’s an Editorial on Mining on this page.
March 13th has been fixed for the inquiry, which Sir Henry Wain, former Chief Inspector of Mines will officiate at Hanley Town Hall. It is to be held into the Sneyd colliery Mining Disaster, which occurred on January 1st this year.
At Hanley Stipendiary Court today James Ashley of 33, Briton St. Penkhull, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an essential work order by abstaining himself from work at Berryhill colliery without permission. He was fined £5 with £4 4s costs.
At Burslem Stipendiary Court today Arthur Heath of Ball Green farm, Ball Green, pleaded guilty to three summons for failure to present himself for employment as a collier at Chatterley Whitfield colliery, he was fined £5, and 14s, costs in each case, a total of £17 2s. When Geoffrey Street of 103, North Road, Cobridge, failed to appear at the same Court, it was said he left his employers, Sneyd colliery, without written permission of a National Service Officer. The Magistrate issued a warrant for the defendant’s appearance in Court.
A paper on "The enlarging and Deepening of a shaft and the installation of a axialflous fan was read to members of North Staffordshire Institute of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers yesterday by John G. Bromilow.
A sentence of three months imprisonment was passed by the Magistrate at Tunstall Stipendiary Court today, on Geoffrey Smith of 103, North Road, Cobridge, for failing to answer charges against him at Tunstall Court Two days earlier. Pleading guilty at the same Court Mr. Thomas Henry to three summonses for failing to present himself for employment at Sneyd colliery, Burslem, Mr. Thomas Henry Egerton of 3, Heath Street, Goldenhill, was fined £3, in each case with £2, 2s costs a total of £11, 2s.
Progress of the work, of the North Staffordshire Coal and Ironstone Workers Permanent Relief Society was reviewed at the quarterly meeting of the committee. Total membership was 1,413.
A Staffordshire firm was fined £10,000 at Stafford Assizes yesterday; Harry Thomas Ridlington aged 45, Managing Director of Ridlington Geddes Co. Ltd. Birch Street, Wolverhampton. They were selling pit props above the maximum price. (There is more on this story in this edition.)
A cheque for £8,13s is to be added to the supplementary amount of £352,12s, for the Sneyd colliery Disaster Fund, from the employees of The Royal Ordinance Factory of the Midlands.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the resumed inquest at Newcastle under Lyme Town Hall, on Mr J. Wakelin aged 52, of 20, Hall St. Newcastle, who received injury in an accident at Silverdale colliery, on March 2nd it was stated that Mr. Wakelin was buried by a fall of dirt. When he was extracted he was found to be dead; cause of death was internal injuries or asphyxiation.
The Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate imposed a fine of 10s, with £2, 2s, costs, on Mr. Charles Connel of 21, Pyenest St. Shelton, at Hanley Court today; Mr. Connel who did not appear was summoned for failing to comply with a directive to work underground at Hanley Deep Pit. Mr. Connel undertook to work, as he was at work and not present at Court, the Magistrate dismissed the case.
There is a Photograph of the Bishop of Lichfield (Dr. E.S. Woods) and the Rector of Hanley, the (The Rev. H. H. Treacher) who toured the workings of Mossfield colliery, Longton; with them is the colliery Manager Mr. J. Foster, the Bishop said "from the pit bottom we walked a considerable distance, then we had a ride on some trucks, and finally we had to crawl through forward, right to the coal face."
Among the Labour nominees for the Burslem constituency, in the next General Election is Mr. Edward Dutton who is employed at Norton colliery.
While work underground at Fenton colliery today, (Glebe colliery) Arthur Jackson aged 44, a miner of 24, Ronald Street, Florence, Longton, was trapped by a fall dirt and suffered injuries to his head, and was taken to the N.S.R.I.
Mr. Arthur Henry Crane aged 25, of 108, Newport Lane, Burslem, a miner appeared at Burslem Stipendiary Court today for non-payment of a fine, amounting to £9 13s 6d, for three cases of failing to go to work, the Sneyd colliery representative said "he had only worked six shifts out of a possible 32, and could of earned £3 10s a week. Crane was committed to prison for a month suspended on payment of £1 per week.
Tributes of esteem were paid at Keele Parish Churchyard on Saturday to Mr. Arthur Askey of 234, High Street, Silverdale, Mr. Askey passed away at N.S.R.I. at the age of 55, and he was a winder of 25, years at Silverdale colliery and Wolstanton colliery.
Harold Burton aged 35, of 22, Sutherland Ave. Dresden, was admitted to N.S.R.I. having received abdominal injuries when firing a shot at Parkhouse colliery.
A Barbers Shop conversion into a social club for young miners as been sponsored by the Meir, Scout Movement
A crowded meeting room was held at St. John’s Methodist School, Wolstanton, last night when consideration was given to the recent legal effects to properties damaged by mining subsidence within the Manor of Newcastle under Lyme.
Special consideration is been given to miners for the soap allowance to rise, the allowance will be from the 4oz now to 6oz this per head; and in areas where coal dust as a particular adhesive qualities more will be allowed.
An increase from 9s to 10s a week for widows of miners and from 4s 6d per child for the dependents, who lost their lives in colliery disasters.
At Burslem Stipendiary Court Mr. Thomas Chellinor of 61, Bond Street, Tunstall, was fined 10s with £1 4s 6d, for each summons of failing to present himself for employment as a collier at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. Three summons of a similar nature against Mr. Arthur Gould of 16, Foundry Square, Norton Green, for failing himself to present himself for employment as a collier at Norton and Biddulph collieries, the case was adjourned (sin die) it was stated that the defendant had broken his ankle in an accident last Sunday.
Photograph of Sir Henry Walker who will be conducting the inquiry into the Sneyd colliery Disaster, Mr. W.J. Saddler, Mr. Llewellin Jacob, (assessors) Mr. J. R. Felton(H.M. Deputy Inspector of Mines, and Mr. J. W. Sumnall. This inquiry is published on this page and the back page of this edition. The proceeding of this inquiry is published on page1 and the back page, of the Sentinel, on the 14th 15th 16th and 17th of April’s editions.
At a special Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police Court, Douglas Green aged 18, of 92, Beasley Ave. Chesterton, was fined £1 12s 6d with 7s 6d costs when he pleaded guilty to stealing a gents gold ring, a comb, a packet of cigarettes and 6d in cash, to a total value of £1 7s, the property of Mr. John Harrison between 10th-11th April, these articles went missing from a locker at Parkhouse colliery, Chesterton.
Settle and Speakman posted a trading profit for the year of 1941, of, £125,316,9s 2d compared to, £106, 176, 0s 2d. Sir Francis Joseph paid tribute to the miners.
When Herbert Ball aged 58, of 78, Gladstone St. Adderley green, Longton, was summons at Longton Police Court, for stealing a quantity of wood, the property of Mossfield colliery Ltd, to the value of 7s, between December 1st 1941 and 29th march 1942, the Magistrate adjourned for a week so that a witness for the defence could attend.
After a heroic effort to rescue a boy from a disused mineshaft had proved unsuccessful the body of Roy Buttery of the Croft-Park Ave; Weston Coyney, was recovered by the Police on Saturday from the disused mineshaft at Meir Hay, Longton. The shaft was 150 yards deep and the depth of water was 115 yards, the shaft was un-protected. On the Friday the boy had been playing with other children on some other pit mounds near the pit shaft which was approximately nine feet across, it was stated that the boy was laying down on the grass when he suddenly jumped up and fell into the shaft, his plea’s for help were heard by his playmates who immediately gave the alarm. The police were informed and they contacted the National Fire Service. In the meantime Mr. Albert Pickstock, a miner of Goddard Street, Longton, volunteered to go down the shaft; he was lowered down by the rope and managed to get hold of the boy, he got the boy on his back and started to ascend the shaft by the rope, when suddenly the boy lost his grip on Mr. Pickstock and fell back down the shaft again. There is to be an inquest tomorrow.
The Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Burslem referred to the provisions of essential work order when he adjourned until next Thursday week a case in which Mr. Arthur Willett aged 28, single, of St. Ann’s Vale, Brown Edge, and was summonsed for leaving his employment as a haulage hand at Chatterley Whitfield colliery without prior permission of the National Service officer. Mr. Willett had only worked one shift in 11 months.
The case against Mr. Herbert Ball aged 58, of 78, Gladstone Street, Adderley Green, Longton, for stealing a quantity of wood to the value of 7s, the property of Mossfield colliery Co. Ltd. A letter from the foreman of L.M.S. Railway was read out, in which he states that it is common practice to collect wood from the railway embankments. The case was dismissed.
Photograph of Major General Sir Frederick Sykes, Chairman of the Miners Welfare Committee with "snapping" package at the miners food centre Cobridge. More to add. 29th April 1942 Back Page.
A miner was fined £3, at Hanley Police Court today when he was summonsed for assaulting an Air-Warden, who was complaining about the black-out at his house, the defendant, Mr. Robert Woodall aged 40, of 57, Cromer Road, Northwood, Hanley, appeared under a warrant he was summoned to appear yesterday but did not do so, when asked why he said "I thought coal production was more important." He was told to keep his temper under control.
(Which pit)
The opportunity as occurred for the North Staffordshire colliery owners association to make better sandwiches for the men’s "snap" by putting more meat in the sandwich it will cost 2d per man per week; the charge will be 2s, for 5day’s and 2s 4d, for 6 days.
At the concluding meeting of the session held at North Staffordshire Technical Collage, last night the Stoke on Trent Branch of the Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
With reference to the prison sentence on the youth Boon, a surface worker of 19, who declined to go down the pit, Mr. Andrew MacLaren M.P. for Burslem, had an interview with Mr. Ernest Bevin, Minister of Labour, and made representation to him, the interview was a negative result. Mr. MacLaren is going to see Mr. Boon in Liverpool prison.
A miner’s varied reasons for being absent from work without permission, were given by Mr. Arthur Taylor of 163, Croan Bank, Talke, was fined 10s, with 14s, costs in each case a total of £3 12s, he is a loader with Bignall hill colliery Co. at Bignall End, it was the first case of this nature at this colliery.
Norton and Biddulph collieries reported a profit for 1941 after provision for fees and £2,352 for war damage, contribution of £184,352, compared with £200,326, the previous year.
Mr. MacLaren M.P. interview with Mr. Boon in Liverpool prison, a young surface worker yesterday said "as a result of a consultation with Mr. Boon I have now passed the statement from him to the Home Secretary, and I have been in touch too with the Home Secretary, by telephone this morning, he has now the whole circumstances of the incident, and I shall hear from him today or tomorrow, I am hopeful!"
At Stoke County Court today, Mrs. F.E. Timmis, of 6, Longrow, Madeley, brought a claim for compensation against Madeley colliery Co. Ltd; in respect of her late husband’s death, Mr. George Timmis, which occurred on April 18th 1941, he had been employed at the colliery for 42, years. Up to the time of his accident on 17th July 1940, when he received an injury to his great tow of his left leg; he later developed pleurisy and pneumonia. In November 1940, the colliery admitted liability and paid him 35s, a week. His wife said he was never free from pain. His Honour Judge Fennemore said, "having the advice he was not satisfied that death was caused by heart trouble, resulting from no disease that was the result of the fracture, he was bound to make award for the respondents.
North Staffordshire has lost one of its foremost mining engineer’s, geologists and a great mining technologist by the death of Mr. J.T. Stobbs F.G.S. of Curzon Street, Basford, which occurred suddenly yesterday. Mr. Stobbs aged 76, had a national reputation having made several geographical surveys in most of the coalmining areas of the country.
Newcastle under Lyme Council adopted by a large majority, a recommendation by the finance committee, that the Town Clark be paid an honorarium of £250, in recognition of work done by him, in recent mining subsidiary litigation with Duchy of Lancaster, and be allowed to keep £250, paid by Stoke on Trent Council.
At Stoke Stipendiary Court today, Mr. Stuart Taylor aged 20, a colliery worker of 93, Albert St. Burslem, appeared on an adjourned summons for non payment of fines for failing to attend work regular. The defendant was committed to prison for 4, weeks, the sentence being suspended so long as he pays 10s, per week, The Magistrate said "the onus is on himself whether goes to prison or not". Mr. Taylor had only paid 10s, out of the £3, fine, and £1,1s costs previously ordered against him.
There is a Tribute to Mr. J.T. Stobbs on this Page.
Mr. I. W. Cumberbatch F.G.S. M.I. Min E. General Manager and Director of Sneyd colliery Co. Ltd. and President of North Staffordshire Colliery Owners Association said of the great work the late J.T. Stobbs had done. There is more on this on this page.
More tributes were made at the funeral of Mr. J.T. Stobbs at Carmountside Crematorium on Saturday.
A warning by the Magistrate that future cases of a similar nature would be severely dealt with, was given at Newcastle under Lyme Stipendiary Court, when two miners were fined for sleeping in the ‘Bangup Pit’ at Madeley colliery. The defendants were Mr. Isaac Pepper aged 22, of 20, Willmot Drive, Lower Milehouse Lane, Newcastle, who was fined 30s, and Mr. John Stanley Timmis aged 17, of 9, Cemetery Rd. Knutton, who was fined 10s.
When Jack Frodsham aged 23, single of 23, Oxhay Drive, Biddulph, appeared at Tunstall Stipendiary Court yesterday; he was summoned for failing to present himself foe work as a collier at Chatterley Whitfield colliery. He was fined a total of £3 8s 0d.
A fine of £5, with costs of £3 3s, was imposed at Tunstall Stipendiary Court yesterday on Mr. Arthur Willatt aged 28, a single man, of St. Ann’s Street, Brown Edge, for leaving employment without permission of the National Service Office; Willett had only worked two turns in eleven months at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.
A fine of 20s, and 21s, costs each was imposed at Tunstall Stipendiary Court yesterday, when Ernest Durber, of Ravencliffe, Ravens Lane, Bignall End, and Ernest Phillips, aged 29, of New Council Houses, Halmerend, for fighting in coal mine in or about Bignall Hill colliery, the fight started at the bottom of the shaft and continued when they arrived at the surface.
The ‘Boon case’ was brought to the attention of the North Staffordshire Trades Council at their meeting yesterday, in the addenda of Any Other Business; the President intervened and said "A prior resolution should have been put in A.O.B. but put on the addenda for debate. The resolution was lost.
A man aged 44, from Harper Ave, Wolstanton, was fined £2s, with 29s, costs at Newcastle under Lyme, Borough Council, Police Court; he was found in the enclosed premises of Parkhouse colliery, Chesterton, on April 26th.
There was a warning to Miners about the risks of removing roof bars without setting up temporary props, (middle sets) were uttered today, by the coroner at the Hanley inquest, on James Bartley aged 30, a colliery packer, of 137, Brook St. Hanley, who was killed by a fall of roof in the Moss seam at Hanley Deep Pit. The inquest recorded that the death was caused by Asphyxiation and injuries, by an accidental fall of roof.
Mr. James Hankey aged 15, of 18, Woodland St. Tunstall, employed by Chatterley Whitfield colliery, suffered injury to his back when trapped by a load of tubs while working underground. He was taken to the N.S.R.I.
The Stipendiary Magistrate adjourned for one week, so the defendant could produce medical evidence, in the case of Mr. Richard Turner Jackson, aged 28, a married man of 58, Thornley St. Stanfields, Tunstall. He was absent from work for seven days between 18th March, and 14th April, this year; the defendant had previously been fined £9, with £1 11s 6d, he had paid only £1, of that order.
Mineworkers between the ages of 20, and 35, are the worst attendance record of all the employees in the industry, this was voiced today by?
The case against Mr. Harold Dawson of Charles St. Hanley, he was summoned for leaving his employment at Hanley Deep Pit, without written permission of the National Service Officer. Mr. Dawson an underground collier was away from work from 15th April, until 18 May, this year; he said that he reluctantly returned to the pit, but he wanted to join the Army. The case was adjourned for two weeks.
There is an Editorial on this page on the Coalmining industry.
Sir Francis Joseph K.B.E. J.P. D.L. has been elevated to baronetcy in the Kings Birthday Honours list. Sir Francis has been primarily a colliery owner.
In Hanley Police Court today, there were two cases of theft from pit head bath lockers at Hanley Deep Pit on the 9th of June, Mr. Frederick Arthur Salt, aged 17, of 6, Arlington Rd. Hanley, to be remanded to prison for a week for his fitness to plead, or to be sent to borstal. At the same Court on Wednesday Mr. Salt was found guilty of being concerned with Mr. Samuel Arthur Lindop aged 17, of 28, Brook St. Hanley, who also appeared. Mr. Lindop admitted of stealing from the office. His case is to be adjourned for one month to see how he worked; if unsatisfactory he would be sent to the City Quarter Sessions.
Mr. James Boon aged 19, a colliery worker of 18, Avery St. Hanley, who on April 20th was sent to prison for? Was released from prison today, he said he would not change his views and would not go down the pit. More to come.
A full report on Miners wages; an increase of 2s 6d per shift for all miners over 21, years of age, and underground workers aged 18-21. More to come. (To put the miners wages into context; the Pottery workers wages are for a woman £2,2s,6d, for a full week worked and the lowest pay for a male is £3,5s, for a full week worked Dated, on 27th July 1942.)
A stoppage of work at Chatterly Whitfield colliery which involves 2,500 men is in progress. The strike at the colliery, as arisen out of a dispute with face workers and their wages.
The unofficial strike at Chatterley Whitfield colliery which started on Monday afternoon and continued until it terminated this afternoon.
A sequel to a fire on the eve of 11th June in the engine house of the Old Grange Colliery, Grange field, Burslem, in which bales of sandbags were damaged to the value of £2,009, was heard in the juvenile Court Burslem.
Coal mine owners have accepted the new pay structure of the miners wage increase.
A representative gathering of the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Mining Engineers of the Stoke on Trent Branch paid a visit to the works of Messrs Taylor Tunnicliffe, on Saturday to see electro porcelain manufactured.
While playing with his dog, a 17 year old Knutton miner met his death when he fell down a thirty feet test shaft at Apedale colliery area last night, despite gallant but unsuccessful efforts by his companions to save him. The victim was Mr. Levi Clark of Rogers Ave. Newcastle, who was employed at Madeley colliery. The test shaft which was protected by timber planks, and was sunk by Holditch colliery Co. Ltd. in preparation for a new footrail. The coroner as been informed.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner on Mr. Levi Clark aged 17, a miner of 30, Rogers Ave; Knutton, who fell down a 30 feet test shaft at Apedale. At the inquest the death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The coroner said he was satisfied that the shaft was properly fenced off for all reasonable purposes. An officer of the colliery said the shaft was only for test purposes and his going to be filled in.
At Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police Court this afternoon, Mr. Sam Grocott aged 17, of 13, Rotterdam Rd. Newcastle was committed for trial at Staffordshire Assizes, when he will appear on the following charges; 1. On the 23rd of July 1942, at Wolstanton, in the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme, did unlawful damage to a steal haulage rope with the intent to impair the efficiency of the colliery machinery, being used in the performance of essential service namely the production of coal. 2. On the 23rd of July 1942, at Wolstanton, in the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme, did unlawfully damage a steel rope having reasonable cause to believe that it would likely interfere with persons carrying out with their work by persons, namely miners, engaged in essential work namely the production of coal. Bail was renewed at £50, in personal surety and £50, in accustomed defence. At the time he was employed at Wolstanton colliery.
A sentence of one month imprisonment was passed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Tunstall today, on Sam Willatt aged 18, of Banks End, Brown Edge, and an unemployed miner who pleaded guilty to assaulting at Brown Edge, a six year old Goldenhill girl, whom he struck with a stone. Mr. Willatt had done no work for two years; he stayed at home while his Father and Mother went out to work. The Magistrate said that "Mr. Willatt was in need of some strong discipline." No pit was named.
At Stoke Stipendiary Court today, Mr. George Rowley of 22, Windermere St. Hanley, was summoned for failing to comply with a directive by the National Service Officer to present himself on each workday as a collier, at Hanley Deep Pit. Mr. Rowley had a persistent record of absentisem. He had been found to be medically fit for work; the case was adjourned for one week so Mr. Rowley could produce medical evidence.
Charges of the theft of pedal cycles at Newcastle under Lyme Police Court today Mr. Norman Knapper aged 33, of 11, First Avenue, Butt Lane, was sent to prison for six months, the sentence were to run concurrently on each charge of stealing a pedal cycle to the value of £10, the property of Francis Lowe, of Newcastle, on the 1st August and for stealing a cycle to the value of £5, the property of Doreen Morgan, at Hanley, on the 7th August.
His he a miner?
A sentence of three months imprisonment was passed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Burslem yesterday, on Geoffrey Street a single man aged 20, of 103, North Rd. Cobridge, who had pleaded guilty last week for failing to comply with a directive, to present himself for employment as a haulage hand at Fenton colliery Co Ltd. (Glebe colliery)
When George Rowley of 22, Windermere St; Cobridge, appeared before the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate on three adjourned summonses of failing to comply with a directive of the National Service Officer to present himself for employment at Hanley Deep Pit, as a collier, he did not comply on the following dates; on 25th June, 2nd July and 9th July he was fined £2, and £1,8s in each case.
Awards for Pit Shaft Gallantry were presented at Longton Police Court today, to Mr. George Albert Pickstock of 164, Goddard St; Longton, a miner, with a Certificate of the Royal Humane Society, he was also presented with the Humane Society Bronze medal; also presented with a Certificate of the Humane Society was Mr. Frederick Moss, a Shaft Sinker. (See April 22nd 1942. Page 1.)
A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner, at an inquest at Burslem today, on Mr. William Owen Jones, aged 59, a widower of 35, New Buildings, Black Bull, a colliery waist Packer, who received fatal injuries while working underground at Chatterley Whitfield colliery on September 3rd. The cause death was the result of a fall of roof between four props. Death resulted from a fracture of the spine and a fractured base of the skull.
The fund for the re-building of the destroyed Czechoslovakian village Lidice was opened by the Lord Mayor of Stoke on Trent with a donation of £100. The North Staffordshire Mining Federation has contributed £1,250, a result of a levy which the men made themselves.
The training of personal for the mining industry of North Staffordshire was the subject of an important paper by Mr. J.E. Brown; the Head of the Mining Department of the North Staffordshire Technical Collage to the members of North Staffordshire Branch of Colliery Managers and the Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, there is more on this subject on this page.
At N.S.R.I. on Monday afternoon an inquest was held into the death of Mr. Charles Copestake aged 18, a haulage hand at Fenton colliery, (Glebe colliery) of 28, Herbert St. Normacot, who died in hospital on 3rd September. He was killed by runaway tubs; a verdict of accidental death was recorded.
The Stoke on Trent Coroner held an inquest at Hanley Town Hall today on, Richard Herbert Hubble, aged 32, of 5, May St. Silverdale, a coal cutter’s attendant who lost his life when a fall of dirt occurred at Hanley Deep pit, on September 8th a verdict was recorded that the cause of death was, "a fracture of the skull and lacerations to the brain through being accidentally crushed by a fall of dirt in a coalmine".
An information pamphlet dealing with recent legislative and other changes in the mining industry as they affect colliery firemen as been issued to members of the Staffordshire Collieries, underground Firemen, Shotfirers and Overmen Association. The pamphlet is based on a paper given before a delegate Council by Mr. J.W. Sumnall, General Secretary of the association, who addressed the colliery Firemen.
Three colliery workers aged 16, 17 and18, were charged with braking into and entering the Hanley shop of Mr. Joseph Mott, and stealing various articles and £3, in money, on May 25th 26th, all three pleaded guilty, and placed on probation for 12 months.
The Minister of Labour and the National Service Office has made a new essential order, for the coalmining industry, and comes into force next Thursday.
A mining injury in a colliery accident which happened ten years ago was the subject of arbitration, under the Workers Compensation act at Newcastle under Lyme County Court yesterday. The applicant was Mr. William Newbrooks of 63, Keeling St. Wolstanton, and the respondent was Wolstanton Colliery Co. Ltd. Mr. Newbrooks who was 43 years of age had worked at Wolstanton colliery for about, 15, years. He had been assisting a fireman in the preparation of shotfireing at the coalface, when a fall of roof occurred, resulting in Mr. Newbrooks sustaining injuries to his back and head. The respondent’s spokesman said "It was a very old accident on which the applicant relied on his memory on which is now very different from the accident in the report book at the time. The onus of proof should be with the applicant".
A fine of £1, and special costs of £5, 5s, was imposed at Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Longton, on an adjourned summons of failing to comply with a directive of National Service Officer; Mr. George Donkin aged 32, of 46, Charles St. Longton, failed to take up employment at Mossfield colliery. The defendant did not appear.
Mr. F.H. Wynne C.B.E., who has been H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines since 1938, retires tomorrow. Mr. Wynne is a native of Fenton, and the son of the late Mr. R.H. Wynne mining engineer and grandson of the late Mr. T. Wynne, the first inspector of mines in the area.
"Water conditioning for collieries" was the title of a paper given by Mr. P. Hamer of I.C.I. to the Stoke on Trent Sub. Branch of Association of Mining and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
At Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police Court yesterday, Mr. William Henry Ouseley aged 21, of 4, Long Row, Madeley, was summoned for failing to present himself for employment as a loader at Silverdale colliery, contrary to the Defence (Gen) Reg. 1939. He was fined £3, and £5, 5s costs.
The death has occurred at his home, Park View Villas, Nonnington, Dover, of Mr. James Willis, formerly underground manager for many years at Florence colliery. Mr. Willis was 73 years old, and lived at Nonnington for almost fifteen years. He left this area to take up an appointment as an official at Snowdown colliery.
Summonses against Mr. John Matthew Condliffe aged 21, of 29, Diglake St. Bignall End, for failing to comply with a directive by the National Service Officer, to present himself for work as a haulage hand at Bignall hill colliery, Bignall End. The case was adjourned for further medical examination has he said he had stomach pains; he had been seen by a doctor and found to be physically fit for work; the case will be adjourned so the N.S.O. can see him for himself.
Sneyd colliery Co. Ltd. reported a net profit for the year ending 30th June1941 of £79, 821, before and allowing for tax, compared to £67, 006, the previous year; a fixed dividend of 7,1/2% to be paid again, making 15% for the year plus a bonus of 2,1/2% (against nil)
Mr. Norman Carnell a miner aged 45, of 625, Uttoxeter Rd. Longton, suffered an injury to his neck and shoulders when struck by a fall of dirt while following his employment at Parkhall colliery, he was taken to hospital.
Two Milton brothers, Samuel and Harry Potts, of Cope St. Milton, appeared at Burslem Stipendiary Court on an adjourned summons of failing to comply with a directive to present themselves for employment at Norton and Biddulph colliery. These two grown men didn’t go down the pit because they had goats to look after. The case was adjourned for four weeks to see how they worked. Since then they have only missed one shits work in a month. The Magistrate dismissed the case on this outcome on payment of £2, 14s each
Captain R.C. Wain M.C. formerly of Chatterley Whitfield colliery, and Thorn colliery, Yorkshire, for the last five years has been appointed agent at Thorn colliery.
At Tunstall Stipendiary Magistrates Court, George Percy Rawlins aged 24, of Crossley Rd. Stanfields, appeared on three Summonses of for failing to present himself for employment as a collier at Sneyd colliery Co. Ltd. He was fined £3, on each case and £2, 2s costs, he was also in arrears to £2, 14s and ordered to pay £1, per week or in default to serve three week imprisonment.
There is a list of colliery owners, and mine managers, with a minimum of twenty miners at their colliery, is eligible to send one person at their colliery, which will represent North Staffordshire Colliery Owners. The North Staffordshire Federation will send a representative from each colliery, to the annual Colliery Owners meeting in London.
At the end of a North Staffordshire full time training course for colliery firemen, the first to be held in any coalfield will be marked tomorrow by the presentation of prizes, to the most successful candidates by, Mr. F.H. Wynne. (Former H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines) There is more on this and a list of the prize winners on page 1. of the Evening Sentinel tomorrow.
At the meeting of the Stoke on Trent Branch, of the Association of Mining Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, held at Stoke on Trent Technical Collage last night, the paper given was on "Electrical Drilling at the Coalface" by Mr. W. Mould, then a paper by Mr. Udall on "Downhill conveyers" and afterwards a paper on "On the installation of electrical apparatus into a new district, when only available supply was direct current." This was given by Mr. M. Bingham.
There is a photograph of the presentation of the prize giving to colliery firemen.
Two colliery workers lost their lives as the result of a fall of roof which occurred yesterday in No4 pit of Sneyd colliery, Burslem, the victims who were both married were Mr. William Perkins a miner aged 44, of 3, Lincoln St. Hanley, and Mr. Joseph Stiric aged 35, a colliery conveyer hand, of 55, Broadfield Rd. Sandyford. They were both buried by a fall of roof and were dead when extricated from the debris. The City Coroner has been informed.
Outspoken comments on the coal industry and some of its problems, such as absentisem were made by Alderman J. A. Webb, regional coal controller at a meeting of North Staffordshire Branch of colliery managers. There is more on this on this page.
Mr. Samuel Grocott today was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for the damage he caused at Wolstanton colliery. He had previously been employed at Leycett colliery. (Madeley) The manager of that colliery said he was "hopeless." See 14th August 1942 Back Page.
The inquest on Mr. Richard Shenton aged 66, a colliery packer, of Bourne St. Heron Cross, Fenton, who died in hospital last Sunday, as been adjourned for a fortnight in order for a pathologist examination could take place, and report to the coroner. On the 16th of September while working underground at Hem Heath colliery, a small piece of dirt fell from the roof and struck Mr. Shenton on his safety helmet, which forced the helmet down on his head and caused a slight wound, Mr. Shenton carried on working his shift out. He remained working until the 2nd October.
A verdict in accordance with medical evidence that death was due to Hypotactic Pneumonia following a fractured femur sustained from an accidental fall was recorded at an inquest yesterday. Mr. Thomas Beech aged 80, was a former coalminer of 124, High St. Alsagers Bank, Newcastle under Lyme, who died in hospital the previous day.
The Royal Humane Society Testimonial was presented yesterday to Mr. George Collis, a coalminer of 7, Gordon St. Fenton, for saving a boy from drowning in the canal. At about 4 15, p.m. on Monday the 10th August, three children were playing on the side of the Trent and Mersey canal, at Whieldon Rd. Fenton, when William Thomas Jackson, aged 8, of Argyle House, Hankin St. Fenton, fell into the canal. Mr. Collis was standing by some buildings in Whieldon Rd. when he heard children’s cries; he ran about 100yds; and saw the boy in the water, he jumped in the canal without taking any of his cloths off, and swam to the boy and brought him to the side, then applied artificial resuscitation, until the boy recovered conciseness. The Royal Humane Societies testament is on parchment and presented to Mr. Collis, by Mr. Alan Wright, the Florence colliery manager at the pit head baths canteen where many of Mr. Collis’s work colleagues were present; they are to have the award framed for Mr. Collis.
At the annual meeting of the North Staffordshire Institute of Mining Engineers will be held at the Stoke on Trent Technical Collage on Monday next, when the new president and other officers will be elected for the coming year. Mr. James Cadman D.S.C. J.P. D.L. has been nominated for President and will give the Address.
At his election as President, Mr. James Cadman reviewed the present and forecast the future of the Coal Industry. There is more on this, on this and the back page
Two youths appeared before the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate at Longton today for abstaining themselves from work without reasonable cause at the Parkhall pit of the Mossfield colliery, between September 23rd and October 3rd Mr. Cyril Tighe aged 18, of 23, Chatsworth Ave. Meir, was fined £2, plus costs in each of three cases. Mr. Sydney Manley aged 17, of 112, Harrowby Rd. Meir, was fined £1, with 14s costs.
A fine of £30, to be paid at the rate of £1 per week was imposed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate yesterday on Mr. Ernest Brown aged 22, a miner of 12, Wedgwood St. Etruria, was charged with stealing £65, in money belonging to his father Arnold, of Ringstone Far, Armshead, Werrington.
A fine of 10s with one Guinea (=£1,1s=£1,5p) special costs was imposed by the Potteries Stipendiary Magistrate, at Burslem; today on Frederick Watkiss, aged 17, of 5, Greasley Rd. Abbey Hulton, a colliery haulage hand, he pleaded guilty to being asleep while below ground in a coalmine. On Behalf of Norton and Biddulph collieries Co Ltd. it was said that after mealtime at about 3,20 a.m. on 21st November last, it was found that one of the conveyer belt was still running while the other conveyer had stopped. The defendant was in charge of the conveyer belt which was running, but he was found to be asleep in his position by the scotch battery. The effect of the belt continuing to run was that coal had piled up to about six feet, the belt was continuing to run causing friction and becoming hot. It could have been more serious outcome.
Major Lloyd George Minister of Fuel and power has written to Ellis Smith M.P. and has given the number of miners killed and seriously injured per thousand in the North Midlands division of the coalfield: in 1930, there were 0.83 killed, and seriously injured, 393, in 1935, 0.84 -378, in 1939 0.88 -369, in 1940, 127 -442, in, 1941,122 -471, and for 47 weeks so far this year 83, killed and 406, seriously injured.
The total output of coal for November was 2,000 tons more than in the previous November, miners of the North Staffordshire area are among the 230,500 men in the eight districts of the country who qualify for a bonus, and the bonus ranges from 3d, to 1s, 9d, per shift. North Staffordshire miners will get 3d. There’s a full list of other area’s bonuses on this page.
A fall roof at Hesketh pit of Chatterley Whitfield colliery was described at an inquest at Burslem Town Hall on Mr. Reginald Wood aged 38, a collier, of 66, Pitt St. East Burslem. Stoke on Trent City Coroner recorded a verdict of that death was due to a crush fracture of the skull, through an accidental fall of roof.
Fines of £1, and 14s, costs in each case was imposed on George Albert Grocott aged 20, of 21, Cornwallis St. Stoke, at Hanley Stipendiary Court today for, abstaining himself from work without reasonable excuse, at Stafford Coal and Iron colliery Co. Ltd. Fenton, on the 17th 18th and 19th of September last. The defendant pleaded guilty to each case. When the Magistrate dismissed the defendant he turned around and said "I am not going to pay any fine" 17th December 1942 Page 3.
An address on "Atmospheric Conditions in Mines Air" was given to members of The North Staffordshire Colliery Manages Association at their meeting last night.
At the Inquest at N.S.R.I. on a man who was injured in an Air Raid two years ago, when a solitary aeroplane bombed Chesterton and he had collapsed while at work at Holditch colliery. MR. George Henry Jones a colliery face worker aged 61, of 28, Sanford St. Chesterton. The coroner recorded that the death was in accordance with medical evidence. There was no evidence of any injury or disease that contributed to his death.
A fine of £2, with 14s special costs in each of three cases, with fourteen days in which to pay Was imposed on Jesse Leach aged 27, of 109, Harrowby Rd. Meir, when he was summoned at Longton Stipendiary Court today, for abstaining himself from work without written permission at Mossfield colliery on October 19th 20th and 27th last, the defendant pleaded guilty.
Two people were prosecuted at Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police Court, on Christmas Eve, for not waiting in a ‘Bus Queue they pleaded through their solicitor that they thought that they had preference over other people, because they were going to work and went to the front of the queue. Mr. Charles Vernon aged 54, of 138, Hassell St. Newcastle, and his son, Mr. Ronald Vernon aged 19; of the same address both miners. There case was dismissed and ordered to pay 4s, costs.
There were three prosecutions at Hanley Stipendiary Magistrates Court today against three miner’s for abstaining themselves from employment without permission Mr. Joseph Flaherty aged 52, of 132, Heathcote Rd, Longton. Owen Leonard aged 19, of 21, Friar St. Ashwood, Longton, who each had three summonses against them and were fined £1, and 14s cost in respect of each case. Mr. Wilton Fellows aged 21, of 7, Abbey Rd. Abbey Hulton, was fined 10s and 14s cost in each of three cases.
An inquest was held at Fenton by Stoke on Trent City Coroner on Amos Pugh aged 77, of 231 Duke St. Fenton, on retired former miner. Death was recorded as Heart Failure.