Bentley Pit History Part 2 - Disasters

Funeral procession on Arksey Lane, 25th November 1931

Bentley's Darkest Days

Coal mining has always been a dangerous occupation, working so far underground in cramped airless conditions amongst heavy machinery, it's no wonder that miners suffer injury or even loss of life. But every so often a major disaster occurs which leads to the loss of many lives and rocks the surrounding neighbourhood for years to come. Two such disasters have occurred in Bentley within living memory. This is the story of them both.

Contents

• The Disaster Of 1931
• The Inquest
• The Funeral
• Photos Of The Procession
• The Burial
• Honouring The Heroes
• Those Who Lost Their Lives
• Memorabilia
• Memorial Card
• Funeral Notice
• Mine's Rescue Presentations
• The Disaster of 1978
• Before The Accident
• The Crash
• Aftermath
• Investigation And Conclusion
• Those who Lost their Lives
• Those Seriously Injured
• Bentley Colliery Disaster Memorial
• Commemorations

The Disaster Of 1931

Friday the 20th of November 1931 must go down in history as the darkest day Bentley has ever known. At approximately 5.45 p.m on that day a huge explosion occurred deep underground in the North East District of the mine.

A sudden flash of flame shot across the workings and brought the roof and walls crashing down, while miners were thrown through the air by the force of the blast.

Some miners were overcome by flammable gas, known as 'firedamp', while others were trapped by roof falls blocking exit shafts.

Crowds gather in the aftermath of the disaster.

Rescue teams raced to clear debris while fires burned, threatening more explosions. During a second blast, five hours later, three rescuers were severely burned. A third blast occurred sometime later. Rescuers totalled 250 and they worked in stifling conditions, often driven back by heat, smoke and gas.

The dead and injured were stretchered to the shafts and brought to the surface, while at the pit-head a crowd of 2,000 men and women watched while the injured were brought out and placed into a continual procession of ambulances.

Kathleen Higson recalls how her father helped to alert the rescue services, and what she witnessed from her home nearby.

'He went into the time office, and was met by an anxious clerk who said, "Can you help me? they have just rung from below ground to say that there has been an explosion". Dad helped him to alert the rescue services, the Colliery Manager and the Colliery Agent.

When he came home to Mum, she rounded up the neighbours to fill and light their copper fires so that hot water would be available if needed. Word began to spread. The two grocers on Victoria Road sent free supplies of tea and sugar. I watched from my bedroom window as a crowd of anxious people built up, filling the road outside and spreading into the pay yard. It was a silent waiting crowd that sometimes parted to let a vehicle through. It was at school on Monday morning that I learned that the father of one of my friends had died.'

Terrible injuries meant that some of the men could not be identified. 43 men were killed instantly, four were brought out injured, and five were never recovered. Two later died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to 45. 

The next day King George V sent the following message:

'The Queen and I are shocked to hear of the disaster which occurred last night at Bentley and send our heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives tragically.'

A policeman posts a notice on the pit gates.
Photo courtesy of Colin Hardisty

The Inquest

An inquest on the victims of the disaster was opened three days later in the colliery office. The coroner Mr Carlile, opened by expressing sympathy for the relatives of the victims stating:

"We can only trust they will be given sufficient courage and strength to bear their loss and that the efforts of those who seek to provide for their welfare will meet with abundant success."

Colliery machinery was silent as a sad procession of witnesses came before the coroner, widows, some with seven or eight children, came to give their evidence. The men, in twos and threes, dressed in their Sunday clothes walked up to the colliery in near silence.

Throughout the hearing harrowing tales began to emerge:

Tragic scenes met the first men to arrive from workings nearby. Miners were scattered on the ground with their clothes burned away, while others appeared to have been blinded. 

The first rescue was carried out by Arthur Kirkland, despite being badly burned and having lost a hand, he was crawling to safety when he met T. Hannon, a pony driver, whose foot had become trapped under a tub. Kirkland managed to lift the tub off his foot and dragged the man 300 yards to safety. Arthur Kirkland did not survive, and the story of his strength and courage only became known later.

A miner working in another part of the mine before the explosion had returned to the surface, but on hearing of the disaster he immediately joined the rescue effort. He went down the pit and found his own son lying unconscious. He dragged him out, to be taken to hospital, but it was the last time he saw him alive.

Henry Womack (aged 44) was the first of the dead to be brought out, while Albert Edward Barcock was the youngest victim at age 17. 

Volunteer rescuers on their return to the surface.

Tales of great gallantry also emerged, and in tribute to those who had worked tirelessly to rescue the men, Mr Carlile said:

"It is always a matter of great satisfaction to know there are always plenty of men willing to risk their own lives to save the lives of others."

One of the proprietors of the colliery, Major Barber had also acted courageously in the rescue work, and speaking in a hushed voice shaking with emotion, he paid tribute to the volunteers' superhuman efforts, and the colleagues of the dead.

The general manager of the colliery, Mr Phillips made special mention of Mr Donald MacGregor, the agent, Mr Albert Longden, the manager, and those who were there from the first:

"They risked everything. It was not a question of getting volunteers, but preventing them from taking unnecessary risks to rescue the men."

Mr Joseph Jones was the secretary of the local branch of the Yorkshire Miner's Association, and he brought their attention to another unknown hero of the disaster:

"I should particularly like to mention Surveyor Temperley. Without rescue apparatus or anything to protect him, immediately he knew there were two men left and the likelihood that they might be alive, he dashed in and brought one out. This particularly courageous act stands out gloriously and shows the risks men were prepared to take."

It was the opinion of Sir Henry Walker Chief H.M.I. that the explosion was the result of a gob fire which had gone undetected due to the amount of air circulating in the underground roads.

The Funeral

Souvenir napkin listing those honoured at the funeral.
Photo courtesy of Janet Roberts

Wednesday the 25th of November 1931 was a damp, misty day, which must have added to the sombre atmosphere in Bentley New village, as people began to gather for the funeral procession and burial of 32 of the disaster victims. Five of the victims would lie entombed in a sealed off part of the pit where they perished, and others would be buried in their native places.

The Bishop of Sheffield (top hat) and wife, with Rev J Lynes of Bentley 
and Rev J Pierce Price of Arksey.
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

The route from the church of St Philip and St James in the New Village, to the cemetery at Arksey, a mile and a half away, was packed with dumb-stricken crowds of people, ten deep in places. The police estimated there were 30,000 people lining the route. Hundreds of people had come from mining districts all over Yorkshire. First aid tents were set up at various points along the route, to treat the many fainting women and children. 

The funeral began at the church of St Philip and St James, with only close relatives allowed into the church. The coffins were laid in long rows beneath thousands of wreaths.

The coffins being carried out of church
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

After the service the coffins were brought out by ambulance men and placed on lorries draped with purple. In front of these improvised hearses were three more draped lorries piled high with wreaths on triangular stands.

Family mourners followed behind, then came officials of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, and representatives of the colliery.

The procession turning on to The Avenue
(Apologies for the poor quality photo)

The procession passed from Victoria Road to the long stretch of The Avenue, from where it turned left on to Arksey Lane. On arriving at Arksey cemetery, some 2000 people were crowded around the large open grave, lined with evergreens. 

Photos Of The Procession

View from the corner of The Avenue / Arksey Lane

Crowds on Arksey Lane, Holly House behind the tree (centre left)

The crowds

The procession leaving The Avenue and joining Arksey Lane

The procession moving along Arksey Lane

The Burial

The victims to be buried at Arksey Cemetery were placed in a large communal grave while hundreds of onlookers stood in orderly fashion around the site.

The grave at Arksey Cemetery
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe

 

Floral tributes were placed on the now covered grave.

A large memorial was erected to the victims buried there, and those whose remains still lie in the pit are also remembered here.

Erecting the Pit Disaster Memorial

The finished memorial.

Honouring The Heroes

In September 1932 it was announced that eight men who had performed heroic assistance in the rescue effort, were to be awarded for their special gallantry. Awarded the Edward Medal for Mines in Silver were Ernest Allport, Deputy, St John's Ambulance man and a member of the Colliery Rescue Brigade. Edgar Hamilton Frazer, Divisional Inspector of Mines. Samuel Jarrett Temperley, Assistant Surveyor, and John Ward, pony driver. Awarded the Edward Medal for Mines in Bronze were Richard Edward Darker, pony driver. Oliver Soulsby, haulage hand, Frank Sykes, Corporal; and Philip William Yates, haulage driver.

Left to right, Philip Yates, Richard Darker, John Ward, Frank Sykes and Oliver Soulsby
at their investiture.

The Edward Medal was established in 1907 for heroic acts, performed by miners and quarry-men who endanger their own lives in pursuit of saving others in peril. Silver was the First Class award, Bronze the Second Class.

Some of the heroic acts carried out by the Bentley heroes are described below.

Ernest Allport

Ernest Allport spent over three hours in breathing apparatus helping stretcher cases when his breathing apparatus needed replenishing. Following the second explosion, and a call for volunteers, he seized some breathing apparatus and joined a rescue party which pushed past a fire to rescue two other men.

Richard E. Darker

Samuel Jarrett Temperley volunteered to lead a rescue party into the return airway despite a fire being on their route. Making their way there an explosion occurred severely injuring three of the rescuers, who then turned back. However, Mr Temperley and one of the mines inspectors went on even though he had no breathing equipment, and managed to reach the airway entrance where he helped to carry an injured man past one of the fires.

Oliver Soulsby

Pony driver John Ward was in a nearby part of the coalface when he was blown off his feet by the blast and covered in a thick cloud of dust. When he recovered, he guided himself in the darkness by feeling for rails and tubs, to reach the face. He helped an injured man to safety and repeatedly returned to the face to help other injured men for the next three hours, until he was completely exhausted.

Frank Sykes

The Edward Medals were presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 24th of February 1933. The award was followed in 1977 by a Jubilee Medal which consisted of a George Cross and Jubilee dress miniature pair. These were presented by Queen Elizabeth II to the six surviving heroes at an investiture that year.

In 1996 the Bentley with Arksey Heritage Society managed to purchase, at auction, Frank Sykes collection of medals, following his death in 1982 in Cleckheaton.

There were many acts of gallantry that fateful night, but only a few were chosen to be honoured, speaking bluntly about this Sam Temperley is known to have said:

"I was embarrassed to get a medal. It was invidious to single out a few when there were 30 to 40 men in the rescue."

Another miner said a few days after the disaster:

"Every chap the explosion hit was one of our pals. They're dead, most of them, and it's no time for us to pose as heroes."

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Those Who Lost Their Lives 

AGNEW, William

Age 34,

of Halmshaw Terrace, Bentley,

Burial place, unknown.

ALLSOPP, James Edward

Age 27,

of The Avenue, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

James E Allsopp

ATKINSON, Charles

Age 37,

of Asquith Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Charles Atkinson

BARCOCK, Albert Edward

Age 17,

of Denby Street, Bentley

Burial Place, Arksey.

Albert E Barcock

BEASTALL, Henry

Age 58,

of The Avenue, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Henry Beastall

BENTLEY, George Robert

Age 46,

of Arthur Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

George R Bentley

BRETT, John J

Age 37,

of New Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

John J Brett

BROCKLEHURST, William

Age 45,

of Coney Road, Toll Bar,

Burial place, Arksey.

William Brocklehurst

BROWN, John Baden Powell

Age 31,

of Wainwright Road, Doncaster,

Burial place, unknown.

John Brown

BUXTON, Stanley

Age 28,

of Tilts Lane, Toll Bar,

Burial place, Arksey.

Stanley Buxton

CALLADINE, Albert

Age 31,

of Winnipeg Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Albert Calladine

CALLAGHAN, John

Age 37,

of Milton Street, Doncaster,

Burial place, unknown.

John Callaghan

CAWOOD, Ernest

Age 50,

Of Askern Road, Bentley.

Burial place, Arksey.

Ernest Cawood

CHEETHAM, Herbert

Age 30,

of Victoria Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Herbert Cheetham

Jessie Thompson and Herbert Cheetham pictured possibly at their engagement in 1930/31.
Herbert lost his life in the pit disaster before they could be married.
Photo courtesy of Bob Lord.

DERRICK, Richard Thomas

Age 53,

of Frank Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Richard T Derrick

DOVE, Thomas

Age, 42,

of Asquith Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Dove

FARNSWORTH, William

Age 29,

of Cromwell Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

William Farnsworth

GRAIN, Joseph William

Age 35,

of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Joseph W Grain

GREAVES, James Roland

Age 33,

of Balfour Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

James R Greaves

GREEN, Thomas

Age 42,

of Arthur Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Green

GUY, Leonard

Age 34,

of High Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Leonard Guy

HAYES, Clifford

Age 25,

of Cross Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Clifford Hayes

HIBBERT, Alfred

Age 44,

of New Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Alfred Hibbert

HOPKINSON, Thomas

Age 33,

of Daw Lane, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Thomas Hopkinson

HUCKERBY, Albert Edward

Age 29,

of Arksey Lane, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Albert E Huckerby

JONES, Leonard

Age 24,

of Marsh Gate, Doncaster,

Burial place, Arksey.

Leonard Jones

KIRKLAND, Arthur Howard

Age 44,

of West End Avenue, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

LAWTON, Harold

Age 31,

of Winnipeg Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Harold Lawton

LEYLAND, Arthur James

Age 49,

of Hall Gate, Doncaster,

Burial place, Arksey.

Arthur J Leyland

LLEWELLYN, John

Age 47,

of Cromwell Road, Bentley,

Burial place, unknown.

MALONEY, Daniel

Age 35,

of Grove Street, Adwick,

Burial place, Arksey.

Daniel Maloney

MASON, Samuel

Age 47,

of The Avenue, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Samuel Mason

MIDDLETON, Wilfred

Age 36,

of Fisher Street, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Wilfred Middleton

PECK, John Ernest

Age 31,

of Tilts Lane, Toll Bar,

Burial place, unknown.

PRITCHETT, Joseph

Age 53,

of The Avenue, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Joseph Pritchett

PRITCHETT, William

Age 46,

of Balfour Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

William Pritchett

ROE, James

Age 56,

of Coney Road, Toll Bar,

Burial place, Arksey.

James Roe

SINGLETON, George

Age 29,

of Raymond Road, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

George Singleton

SLEATH, Lancelot Oliver

(sometimes listed as Lawrence or Leonard)

Age 27, 

of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,

Burial place, Arksey.

Lancelot O Sleath

SMITH, John Hamilton
Age 24,
of Wheatley Park Road, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

John H Smith

TEMPLEMAN, Samuel William
Age 47,
of Cross Street Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

Samuel W Templeman

WARD, William
Age, 41,
of Hawthorne Grove, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.

William Ward

WILCOCK (or Wilcox), Clifford
Age 25, 
of Beaver Street, Goldthorpe,
Burial place, unknown.

Clifford Wilcock

WINDLE, Horace
Age 36,
of Acacia Road, Skellow,
Burial place, unknown.

Horace Windle

WOMACK, Henry
Age 44,
 of Fisher Street, Bentley,
Burial place, Arksey.
Henry's was the first body to be brought out of the 
pit following the disaster.

Henry Womack
Photo of Henry Womack courtesy of Dennis Canning.

This list has been compiled from various sources. Given that some older records had mistakes, I have carried out additional research to verify and correct the mistakes wherever possible.

__________

Memorabilia

Photos and memorabilia sent in from readers regarding the 1931 Pit Disaster.

Memorial Card

Front of card.

Names of those who lost their lives, part one.

Names of those who lost their lives, part two.

Thanks to Bob Lord for these images.

Funeral Notice

Funeral notice

Thanks to Dennis Canning for this image.

Mine's Rescue Presentations

Plaque from a canteen of cutlery given to Alfred Clay for services to the Mines Rescue. Alfred was on duty on the day of the explosion. 

Mines Rescue pin belonged to Alfred Clay.

Engraving on the back of the above pin.

Doncaster Mine's Rescue team

Thanks to Chris Clay for these images.

__________

The Disaster of 1978

Forty seven years, almost to the day, after the terrible disaster at Bentley Colliery which saw the deaths of forty five miners, another tragedy occurred at the colliery, resulting in the deaths of seven men, while nineteen others were injured. This was no explosion though, instead it was an underground train crash which brought sadness to the village. This is what happened.

Before The Accident

 

Introduced in 1939, manriding diesel locomotives, or 'paddy trains', were used to shuttle the miners and haul coal underground. A fleet of twelve locomotives were operated at the pit, and varied in age from 22 to 33 years. A garage near the pit bottom serviced and controlled the trains.

Manriding paddy train

On Monday the 20th of November 1978 the night shift got under way as normal at 10.15pm. Some men boarded a train to their working district, and others boarded two trains to a paddy station.

Train drivers usually worked with their regular conductor, and on this night the No 13 locomotive was driven by R L Wade, with his conductor H A Wells. This train had four carriages. The other train on the journey to the paddy station was the No18 locomotive, with two carriages, driven by G Shone, however, his conductor was not working that night. The pit bottom deputy looked down his list of trained conductors and nominated Allott as a substitute conductor for the night. However, he had confused the name Allott with the name Aylott, who was also listed. So Allott was sent to work for which he had not been trained.

Three trains left the garage at about 4.00am in readiness to shuttle the men out at the end of the shift. Train No 13, driven by Wade, with Wells, the conductor, hauled two carriages which had been repaired during the shift. 

Heading towards the coalface, the track climbed on a gradient of 1:16, so, to prevent runaway trains, the track was fitted with 'arrestors', designed to provide a shock absorbing 'brake' to bring out of control trains to a safe stop. The arrestor is fitted between the main rails, on auxilliary rails. It has an impact head which protrudes above the rails to make contact with runaway trains. It has an operating lever to lower the impact head, which must be held down  to allow trains to pass over it normally.

A Godwin arrestor

Wade stopped his train at the arrestor and Wells lowered the lever on the impact head, and bolted it in place. The train passed over the arrestor, but Wells left the impact head bolted down as he'd seen the lights of a following train, and assumed it would follow him, but it actually turned off onto another route.

The No 18 locomotive, driven by Shone, was the next to approach the bolted down arrestor. He saw that it was pinned in place, and decided to leave it that way, and continued to the top of the incline.

Both trains arrived at the top of the incline, and after some shunting, the repaired carriages and two others were coupled to Shone's locomotive. Wade and Wells assisted the untrained Allott (the substitute conductor) with this operation.

Shone's No 18 train now had four carriages, and would travel down first, followed by Wade's No 13 train, consisting of two carriages. Men already occupied all the carriages waiting to take them out of the mine. Allott was told to sit in the rear of the last carriage (No 6), as was usual for a conductor, and was subsequently left behind in the next event.

The Crash

 

Once the No 18 train had been coupled together, it was required to move forward a short distance to allow the No 13 locomotive to be brought out and coupled to the remaining two carriages.

Shone set off intending to drive about 20 - 30 feet, but his train accelerated down the incline with 65 men aboard.

The train was now travelling at excessive speed and Shone applied the mechanical brakes causing the locomotives wheels to lock. He carried out an anti-skid manoeuvre, but it had no effect on the speed of the train.

By now, the speed of the train was apparent to the passengers, who began to assume crouching positions for the impending impact with the arrestor. 

However, the impact head of the arrestor was still pinned down, and Shone realized this as he approached. All he could do was hope that the train would negotiate the curve in the track.

The locomotive passed around the curve, as did the front of the first carriage, but the rear and the front of the second carriage left the track, parted, and crashed into the roadway supports. The front wheels of the locomotive were derailed, while the first carriage was completely derailed, but remained upright. The second and third carriages were some 67 feet behind, derailed and tilted, the fourth carriage was derailed but upright.

The wrecked carriages

 

Aftermath

Men who had been travelling in the third carriage, and were not physically injured in the crash, rushed to assist with recovery operations. They were soon joined by those waiting on the second, No 13 train, and more from a third train which had just returned with men from another district. One man ran back to the junction to alert the controller and request medical assistance.

During the recovery it was noted by two men assisting, that the arrestor lever was still pinned in the down position. 

A doctor and nursing sister were transported to the accident site on a quickly assembled train. At the site some men were trapped between the last three carriages and the roadway. These carriages were uncoupled and rolled over to release the men. Stretcher cases were taken out by the train used earlier by the doctor and nurse, while those who were able walked out. All were brought out within two hours. Eighteen were taken to hospital, where four of them were temporarily detained. Forty men were treated for shock at the colliery medical centre, and the seven deceased were brought up by 9.00am. 

Ambulance leaving the colliery after the accident

Seperate funerals were held for the victims, and a dedication was added to the Bentley Colliery Disaster memorial at Arksey Cemetery (see photo at foot of page).

Investigation And Conclusion

An investigation was carried out to find the cause of the accident. This consisted of an examination of the locomotive, the arrestor, and testimonies from those involved.

The locomotive was found to be in a good condition and level of maintainance, and did not contribute to the accident.

The arrestor was in good working order, although the impact head did not always return to its operative position, and sometimes needed slight pressure on the lever to return it. However, that night the arrestor had been deliberately pinned down, and could not operate as it should. The arrestor was fitted with red and green lights to indicate the position of the impact head, but these had not been properly maintained for some time, leading to trains passing over a permanent red light.

Bill Askew, chief engineer for Doncaster, with an arrestor, 21 Nov 1978

It was concluded that the drivers and conductors had not been properly trained; driver Shone had only been authorised to drive 23 days before the accident, and his inexperience led to him being unable to cope with the situation which developed. Allott had been placed on conductor duties in error, without training or authorisation.

L to R Jack Wood (Area Director), Arthur Scargill and Derek Ezra (NCB Chairman) after the accident

A number of recommendations were made following the investigation, including, strict adherance of transport rules, certification of drivers linked to the type of locomotive they had been trained on, and drivers to have reasonable post training experience before being allowed to drive manriding trains. Recommendations also extended to replacing elderly locomotives, and fitting speedometers, and the design of new carriages to be given extra strength. Finally, the design of the arrestor should be developed so that it automatically retracts for trains operating at normal speeds, but remains in the operative position for trains travelling at excessive speeds.

Arrestor rules

_________

Those Who Lost Their Lives

AITCHESON, Robert 

age 54,

of Rosslyn Crescent, Bentley,

Ripper.

BOX, Donald

Age 39,

of Petersgate, Scawthorpe,

Ripper.

GREEN, Kenneth

Age 38,

of Balfour Road, Bentley,

Faceworker.

HALL, David R

Age 21,

of Melford Drive, Balby,

Fitter (trainee).

HENDERSON, Geoffrey

Age 39,

of Bentley Road, Bentley,

Ripper.

HICKMAN, Michael Edward

Age 18,

of Jossey Lane, Scawthorpe,

Faceworker (trainee).

MITCHELL, James

Age 55,

of Arthur Street, Bentley, 

Machine man.

Those Seriously Injured

ACORN, Thomas

Age 30,

Shoulder injury.

ASHAMAN, Dennis

Age 23,

Rib injury.

BARNES, Brian

Age 39,

Head and back injury.

BUTCHER, John

Age 57,

Rib injury.

CHAMBERS, Geoffrey

Age 23,

Head injury.

FLINT, Geoffrey

Age 48,

Head injury.

FORCE, David

Age 23,

Head injury.

GOLDING, Michael

Age 26,

Head injury.

HOLGATE, Vin

Age 48,

Head injury.

LINEY, Andrew

Age 28,

Back and head injury.

MOORE, Alfred

Age 24,

Head injury.

PORTER, Alec

Age 48,

Head injury.

RITCHIE, Dennis

Age 57,

Back injury.

RUSH, Thomas

Age 26,

Head injury.

SIDDOWS, Ian

Age 24,

Scalp lacerations.

STEADMAN, David

Age 24,

Hand injury.

THOMPSON, Paul

Age 26,

Head injury.

WATERFALL, Ralph

Age 43,

Head and rib injuries.

__________

  

Bentley Colliery Disaster Memorial

Bentley Pit Disaster Memorial

 

The inscription reads:

In memory of the forty-five men and boys who lost their lives in the Bentley Colliery explosion on the 20th November 1931.

And of the seven men who lost their lives in the Bentley Colliery Disaster on the 21st November 1978.

Commemorations 

Every year a commemorative service is held at the site of the disaster memorial in Arksey cemetery. It is held every November on the Sunday closest to the 20th.

50th anniversary memorial service 1981

Each year the service is well attended by council officials, dignitaries and families. The photos below are from the 2018 service.

A commemoration booklet is produced each year for those attending to follow the service and keep afterwards. This one below is from 2003.

__________

This article is dedicated to all those who lost their lives in the two disasters at Bentley Colliery.

Thanks Go To

George Harriman for funeral procession photos.

Colin Hardisty for forwarding Mr Harriman's photos, and other information.

Sean Brennan for photos.

Janet Roberts for photos.

Keith Wilburn for photos.

 

Alison Vainlo 

First written 2014, updated 2018 and 2020