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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Simon Crooks Wright
	British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
	Date:	21 Oct 1950
	Colliery:	Elemore Colliery
	Occupation:	Stoneman

 

Simon Crooks Wright, Stoneman, Elemore Colliery, National Coal Board. (Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham.)

A workman, who had been loading coal into a large underground spiral chute at Elemore Colliery, was reported missing at the end of his shift. The discovery of an open inspection door in the wall of the chute, which is used to convey coal between two different levels in the mine, led to the conclusion that he had overbalanced while attempting to dislodge coal and that he had fallen into the chute and was buried. After some of the coal had been removed by shovelling through a lower inspection door, the missing workman was heard and was seen to be caught against a batten 16 feet above the door with coal still lodged above him. Wright called for a rope and immediately entered the chute in an attempt to reach the trapped workman although he was fully aware that a large quantity of coal remained in the chute above him and was liable to fall at any moment. Wright was unable to free the trapped man before the coal started to move. He clung on to a batten as the coal swept past him and was partially buried but with his head and arms sufficiently clear to allow him to free himself. The other man was carried down with the coal and asphyxiated.

Wright showed complete disregard for his own safety in making an attempt to save the life of his fellow worker.

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Robert Reuben Cook, Under-manager, Elemore Colliery, National Coal Board. (Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham.)

For services when a accident occurred in a mine.

Source: London Gazette (05 Jun 1951)

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	John Wright	07 Mar 2021	He was my father’s cousin and am interested to know who his father was.

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