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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Melville Beecroft
	Carnegie Hero Fund
	Date:	1936-04
	Colliery:	Glapwell Colliery
	Occupation:

 

Presentations were made at Doe Lea Institute, Glapwell, near Chesterfield, to three of the four men who in April last year risked their lives to save that of another at Glapwell Colliery. The recipients were Samuel Thorneycroft, Junr., Melville Beecroft and J. C. Yemm, each of whom received the Carnegie Hero Fund Certificate and a cheque for £15.

William Simpson, who owed his life to their efforts, and those of Frederick Carney who will receive a similar presentation in London, where he now lives, was pinned down by a fall of roof and almost completely buried for nine hours. He was conscious the whole of the time, but, despite his terrible ordeal, escaped without broken bones, although suffering terribly from shock. In company with two other men, Simpson was working on the conveyor face which was crossed by a fault. They had been repairing a length of face near the fault, and were in the process of casting dirt behind the conveyor when a fall occurred. On hearing a rumble from the roof the men made for safety, but Simpson, the last of the three, was pinned face downwards and buried up to his arm-pits. Owing to the risk of his being completely buried, it was impossible to remove the piece holding his left foot. About eight yards of the roof next to the face had collapsed, and over 80 tons of bind and coal "tops" had fallen. The pressure on his body was relieved by chipping away some of the coal immediately above.

Appreciation of the efforts of the rescuers' efforts was expressed some time later by Captain H. F. C. Crookshank, Secretary for Mines, who, after having examined reports on the circumstances, expressed his admiration of the courage and good pit sense displayed.

Presiding at the ceremony Mr. G. Bunting, manager of the Glapwell Colliery, paid tribute to the four heroes and drew attention to the fact that Dr. J. E. King, of Glapwell, upon hearing of the accident, descended the pit, and at great personal risk gave what aid he could to Simpson. The doctor was on the scene for over six hours.

The presentations were made by Mr. J. A. Tankard, the colliery agent, who said the recipients were worthy of the certificates in every sense. He also mentioned the bravery of Dr. King, and of Mr. W. Smith, the under-manager, who exposed himself to danger whilst directing rescue operations.

Source: The Science and Art of Mining (13 Feb 1937)

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