Newdigate Colliery

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Aldridge, Thomas, 15 Apr 1913, aged 35, Stallman, All the loose coal along a stall face had been filled, and the loader requiring a few lumps for the top of the tub, the deceased went to the way-head where the coal was crushed and easily worked, and began pulling with a pick. He had been engaged at this for a few minutes only when the coal overhead, weighing about 2 tons, toppled over a prop and crushed him to the ground. He died soon after being taken home

Ashman, Jesse, 31 Mar 1908, (accident: 26 Feb 1908), aged 42, Stallman, He died on 31st March, and although the doctor gave a certificate that death was due to natural causes, an inquest was held, and the jury returned a verdict that his death was due to "septicaemia" caused by a slight scratch on the arm, and received in the mine (Two Yard Coal seam)

Ballett, Arthur, 16 Jul 1913, aged 24, Stallman, Deceased was in the act of setting a prop when a fall from the waste side of the stall occurred. Deceased was completely buried. Assistance was quickly obtained and he was practically extricated when a second fall occurred, again burying him. He was uncovered again, but a third fall took place. Deceased was alive when uncovered the second time but was suffocated by the third fall

Bragg, Henry George, 09 Jun 1953, aged 66 [More information ...]

Bucknall, Alfred, 03 Apr 1912, aged 38, Stallman, In a seam 8 feet 2 inches in thickness, a 22 feet length of coal with two loose ends and holed to a depth of 3 feet 6 inches stood on sprags. Deceased withdrew the sprags from either end, which allowed part of the coal to fall, leaving a length of about 10 feet supported by both long and short sprags. None of the fallen coal had been loaded, and there was no necessity to withdraw the sprags from the remaining portion. Deceased, however, for some reason, made an attempt to do so. As soon as the long sprags had been removed, the coal toppled over the short sprags and caught him. It was extremely risky to stand in front of a thick seam and withdraw sprags, and with no clear way of escape on either side

Carter, Charles, 22 Sep 1913, aged 46, Stallman, Deceased was engaged in getting down coal. He holed under a distance of 4 feet 5 inches but failed to set any sprags, as required by General Regulations. A piece of coal, 3 feet long, 2 feet deep, and 1 foot 8 inches broad, fell on his head, forcing his chin down on to his chest. He probably died of shock and asphyxia. The setting of a sprag would in all likelihood have prevented the accident

Casey, J., 03 Sep 1931 [More information ...]

Coombs, William, 13 Jun 1898, aged 47, Carter, Deceased was checking the speed of a horse drawing a waggon loaded with ashes when the horse reared and fell upon him

Cox, Joseph, 29 Mar 1909, aged 24, Browman, Deceased was assisting to get a train of tubs on the rails, and, when the haulage motor was re-started, some current passed into the haulage rope and deceased was killed (Two Yard Coal seam)

Davis, Job, 31 Mar 1924, 8.30 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 28, Getter, Deceased was loading a tub at the face when a large piece of roof coal fell from a slip in the roof and killed him. The place was properly timbered and had been examined less than half an hour before by the fireman. The accident appears to have been unavoidable

Farmer, Arthur, 17 Sep 1904, (accident: 16 Sep 1904), aged 28, Stallman, Fall of roof. Deceased was getting coal from the face and passing it to the loader when the roof fell and fatally injured him. He died the next day. Deceased had not set the necessary timber required by rule. The loader was injured (Ryder coal)

Fleming, William Joseph, 19 Dec 1901, (accident: 18 Dec 1901), aged 41, Labourer, Deceased was uncoupling the full tubs of slack on the top of the slack-hopper landing at the time the train was moving. He was pulled under a steam pipe crossing the tramroad, which gave a clearance of only 1½ inches between it and the tub. He died the next day

Ford, William, 09 Jun 1953, aged 64 [More information ...]

Haywood, Thomas, 25 Feb 1908, aged 15, Horse-driver, He was struck by a door due to a full tub suddenly opening it when deceased was approaching it from the other side (Two Yard Coal seam)

Hollis, W. T., 03 Sep 1931 [More information ...]

Howe, William, 08 Dec 1901, aged 26, Dayman, Fall of roof. Deceased and other men were getting debris from the goaf to build a pack, when the roof fell, breaking the bars and killing deceased (Two Yard coal)

Jones, George, 24 Mar 1904, aged 25, Holer, He was killed while removing the sprags for the purpose or getting the coal down. The falling coal crushed deceased's head, against a prop (Slate coal)

Marsh, Harold, 03 Jun 1909, aged 23, Corporal, Deceased was lowering two full tubs on to some blocks by walking in front of them. The blocks had not been closed and the tubs overpowered deceased (Two Yard Coal seam)

Marston, Thomas, 21 Dec 1914, (accident: 14 Dec 1914), aged 15, Door attendant, Deceased's work was to open and shut a door as circumstances required. This he could do by means of a rope and without leaving a refuge-hole. He opened it to allow a train to pass, and when last seen was standing watching the train. Later on he was found 20 yards down the roadway. He had been working stripped to the waist and his back was covered with severe scratches. He said he had been dragged along by the train. He was taken home and his injuries treated as being only slight. He, however, died on the 21st from septic pneumonia

Miles, J. J., 03 Sep 1931 [More information ...]

Miners, Clifford Aubrey, 09 Jun 1953, aged 36 [More information ...]

Moore, John, 26 Jul 1910, aged 44, Repairer, The accident occurred at the curve at the junction of a level with a dip incline. Two full tubs attached to the haulage rope were being drawn from the level, when the leading tub was pulled over on its side against a prop which was displaced, and a large piece of rock fell upon deceased, killing him instantly

Morris, J. W., 03 Sep 1931 [More information ...]

Odell, Samuel, 31 Oct 1911, aged 35, Stallman, This accident occurred in the Two Yard Coal at the extreme end of a longwall face. Deceased was marking a full tub near the breasting, when a "bump" suddenly brought down a large area of roof coal 15 ins. thick, and 1 ft. of the binds above, reeling out two bars and a prop. Deceased was buried, and though got out alive, he succumbed shortly afterwards. Another man was caught by the fall and injured. The roof had been examined just before the fall, and was considered safe

Pacey, -, 29 Jul 1915, Killed by a fall of stone

Smith, Thomas, 10 Jul 1907, aged 40, Loader, Fall of roof. A large fall of roof occurred at the coal-face which pushed several props out and killed deceased. Another man was injured (Ryder coal)

Smith, Thomas Henry, 18 Nov 1901, (accident: 23 Oct 1901), aged 16, Trammer, He died in hospital from "pericarditis," and was supposed to have had a slight injury in the mine on 23rd October, but there was no evidence of any injury, and the coroner's jury said "we have not sufficient evidence to show that it was caused by an injury done in the pit" [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Taylor, John, 03 Mar 1907, aged 27, Dataller, Fall of side. Repairs were going on in a heading near the coal face when a piece of coal rolled from the side and killed deceased. An official of the mine was in charge of the work at the time the accident occurred (Ryder coal)

Tyler, William, 13 Feb 1912, aged 42, Stallman, The roof overlying the Two Yard seam is of a dry, broken and friable nature for a thickness of 3 to 4 feet, above which is a strong bed of rock. This roof had broken down along a length of face and, to some extent, blocked the ventilating current. Relays of workers had been engaged making a new airway. Deceased and his brother arrived at the place to follow on enlarging a road in the friable shale, and while attempting to pass through a small road with his clothes on, the sides gave way and pinned him. His brother made every possible effort to release him by removing the small shale, but as fast as he removed it, more came, and eventually deceased was asphyxiated

Walker, Job, 24 Jan 1905, (accident: 09 Jan 1905), aged 36, Header, Deceased was driving a heading to tap some water, and when the water broke through he rushed away and ran into a tub, receiving injuries which proved fatal on 24th January (Ryder coal seam)

Walker, Thomas, 11 Aug 1904, (accident: 25 May 1904), aged 37, Deputy, He died 11th August from exhaustion, the result of a cancerous growth, which the coroner's jury said was hastened by an accident he received to his ribs when creeping through a small hole while inspecting the mine on 25th May (Ryder coal)

Walton, Samuel, 14 Jan 1911, (accident: 03 Jan 1911), aged 27, Clipper, Deceased was at work on the haulage rope at the junction of a dip and level when a piece of rock 6 ft. by 7 ft. and from 6 ins. to 1 ft. in thickness fell from between two bars at the junction. Deceased's foot was injured and septicaemia developed and caused death 11 days later. The roof is of sandstone, often false bedded immediately above the coal. At the time of the accident the Longwall face had advanced to within 40 yds. of this spot, and the roof was probably disturbed thereby

Wanless, John, 24 Mar 1899, aged 35, Shaft sinker, Deceased was getting out of a sinking bowk at a partially built scaffold, 200 yards down a sinking shaft, when he fell to the bottom, a further distance of 100 yards, and was drowned, there being a depth of 50 yards of water in the shaft at the time

Watts, George Huffer, 20 Jul 1909, aged 28, Stallman, While deceased was preparing to build a pack at the end of a stall adjoining old goaf a fall of roof killed (Two Yard Coal seam)