Non-fatal Accident

Thomas Bewick

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Committee

Old Sherburn. Thomas Bewick, 68, wasteman

Received injury to his head on December 29th, 1911. He was paid full compensation until May 16th, 1914. The case was referred to the Official Medical Referee, who reported on August 24th, 1914, as follows :—

Bewick is in fair health and his condition is such that he is unfit for work.

The incapacity is still partially due to the head injuries received on December 29th, 1911, and the symptoms he complains of are consistent with it.

His compensation was resumed again, and again stopped on July 1st, 1915. The matter was referred to the Official Medical Referee, who reported on August 18th :—

Bewick is in good health for his age. He complains of pains in the head, where the scalp was injured. There are no signs of injury to the bone, and the wounds are perfectly healed, and his condition is such that he is only fit for light work.

The incapacity is partly due to the accident, but chiefly to his age.

Awarded compensation at the rate of 7/- per week.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/1/6/40, D.M.A. Minutes, Circulars etc. for 1915 (two volumes: covers Jan-Jun, Jul-Dec)

Durham Miners' Association
Compensation Committee

1047. Old Sherburn. Thomas Bewick, 73, wasteman.

Bewick received an injury to the head through being struck by a winch handle coming back-over after winching the rope on December 29th, 1911. He was paid full compensation up to May 16th, 1914, when it was stopped and the case was referred to the Official Medical Referee (Dr Plummer), who reported on August 24th as follows :—

1. "Bewick is in fair health and his condition is such that he is unfit for work.

2. "The incapacity is still partially due to the head injuries received on December 29th, 1911, and the symptoms he complains of are consistent with it."

Compensation was restored to the full rate and paid until July 1st, 1915, when it was again stopped. The matter was again referred to the Official Medical Referee (Dr McCullagh), who reported on 18th August, 1915, as follows :—

1. "Bewick is in good health for his age. He complains of pains in the head where the scalp was injured. There are no signs of injury to the bone and the wounds are perfectly healed, and his condition is such that he is only fit for light work.

2. "The incapacity is partly due to the accident but chiefly to his age."

The Owners at the Arbitration Committee on September 13th, 1915, sought a reduction of the full rate of compensation, and the Committee awarded Bewick 7/- per week. The Owners have again stopped compensation, alleging that Bewick is recovered from the accident.

We were able to prove that the 7/- awarded on September 13th, 1915, was a permanent rate, and the Committee, therefore, decided that Bewick be restored to 7/- per week.

Source: NEEMARC - Ref: NUMDA/6/1/1/1, Reports of the Compensation Department, Vol I covering Sep 1918-Dec 1919

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