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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Patrick Joseph Brennan
	Carnegie Hero Fund - Honorary Certificate
	Date:	14 Aug 1940
	Colliery:	Horden Colliery
	Occupation:	Hewer

 

Four heroes of the mine were honoured at Castle Eden Police Court, to-day, when they received certificates for bravery and £10 each from the Carnegie Fund, for gallant conduct at Horden Colliery.

The recipients were: George Valentine Smith (37), deputy overman 21 South Crescent, Horden; Patrick Joseph Brennan (33), coal hewer, 46 Twelfth Street, Horden; Herbert William Hill (54), coal hewer, 96 Second Street, Horden; and Edward Ord (25), putter, 2 Handley Street, Horden.

Supt. J. Moore, addressing Ald H. Mason, chairman of the bench, said he was instructed by the Chief Constable to ask him to make a presentation, on behalf of the Trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund to the four men in recognition of their heroism at Horden Colliery.

The Trustees, he said had decided to have their names inscribed on the illuminated roll of heroes of the Trust and had awarded each certificates framed in oak and cheques for £10.

Buried By Fall

Relating briefly the circumstances, Supt. Moore said that on August 14, 1940, Ord was working in the Low Main Seam, Horden Colliery, when he heard a rumbling noise coming from the direction of a place where two men named Rushton and Thompson were working. He went straight to the place, where he saw Thompson lying near a tub partly embedded in coal, while Rushton was completely buried.

Realizing at once that more assistance was necessary, he sent another putter to bring Smith, the deputy, while he brought Brennan and Hill. All four men then proceeded to the place, but on the way Smith's oil safety lamp went out, indicating the presence of gas.

With two electric lamps, however, and by clearing the atmosphere with compressed air from the pipe of a pneumatic drill, they succeeded in entering the place.

Thompson was got out-bye where with immediate attention he recovered. Rushton however, when extricated was dead. It was afterwards found that the accident was caused by a blower of gas which had brought down more than 50 tons of coal.

Gallant Conduct

Ald. Mason, in making the presentation, observed that most of those present in court knew the perils attached to coal-mining, and it was pleasing to remember that in times of danger there were always men of courage and skill ready to go to the assistance of their fellow workers.

He congratulated the four recipients on their gallant conduct on August 14, and expressed appreciation of the action of the Carnegie Hero Trust in making the awards. He was also pleased to note that a joint presentation had also been made to the men some weeks ago from the workmen and owners of Horden Colliery. He hoped the heroism of these four men would be an inspiration to others to do likewise.

Mr. R. S. Tate (vice-chairman) also congratulated the recipients. He remarked that we were at present living in an age of heroic deeds, but he thought they could safely say that the deed these men had done, in risking their lives for their fellow men, ranked among the finest traditions of industrial bravery.

Source: Northern Daily Mail (29 Mar 1941)

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