Hedley Colliery

Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents

His Majesty the King has graciously approved the submission of an award of the Edward Medal (in bronze) to each of the nineteen persons who shared in the work of rescue of an entombed miner at the Hedley Colliery, Co. Durham, owned by the Holmside and South Moor Collieries, Ltd. Included in the awards were Mr. Walter R. Scott, Manager; Mr. Robert Reed, Undermanager and Dr. C. I. Brookfield Fox, a local medical practitioner.

The other rescuers were :— Thomas Dixon, Overman; Victor King, Deputy; Thomas Buckley, Deputy; William Waugh, Deputy; Phillip Cox, Deputy; Walter Sheldrake, Deputy; Joseph Lees, Deputy; John Dart, Deputy; John Akers, Deputy; James Kent, Deputy; Thomas Uren, Deputy; George Nancollas, Deputy; Robert Johnson, Deputy; George Mason, Coal Hewer; John George Tarn, Wasteman and Richard Henry King, Wasteman.

The accident happened about 2.50 p.m. on 29th September, 1930.

A coal hewer named Frederick Beaumont was at work with his marrow (Wilkinson) in the last lift of a pillar of coal in the Main Coal Seam under the Five Quarter Seam goaf. The lift was five yards wide and had been driven a distance of seven or eight yards to hole into the old goaf of the Main Coal Seam. The Five Quarter Seam overlies the Main Coal Seam and at the place where the accident occurred is separated only by ten inches of course coal — locally named "brat".

The two seams had been laid down in pillars on the bord and pillar system. The method adopted when "robbing" pillars at this colliery was to slope up to the Five Quarter Seam, work off a lift, and after the roof had fallen properly in the upper seam, the half pillar below in the Main Coal Seam would then be won.

The extraction of a lift in the Main Coal Seam had just been completed when the roof showed signs of "weighting". The two workmen withdrew to a place of safety. After a short time the working place appeared to become normal again and the men returned for the purpose of removing the rails for the final abandonment of that portion of the work.

Without warning the place collapsed, the goaf falling in from the upper seam. Wilkinson managed to escape but Beaumont was trapped on the goaf side. Fortunately a deputy named Victor King who was at work quite close to the spot noticed that a small passage way remained open against a small pillar of coal.

With commendable promptitude and foresight King utilized all the loose timber lying about to form two rough chocks in the passage way. If these chocks had not been put in at once the small opening would undoubtedly have closed in a very short time, thus rendering impossible the rescue operations which followed.

Plenty of help was soon available. The Manager and Undermanager were telephoned for and quickly arrived on the scene, and later Dr. Brookfield Fox was in attendance. It was found to be possible to reach Beaumont by crawling along the passage way for about five yards and then at right angles for a further two yards. Beaumont was found to be uninjured but his legs were pinned by loose debris. It was impossible to pull him out by a rope. Tools could not be used owing to the restricted space. The only method found practicable was for rescuers to lie full length in the passage way with one covering Beaumont’s body. In this way the loose stones surrounding Beaumont were passed back along the passage way.

Owing to the abnormal conditions each set of men could only work short periods before being relieved by others. This accounts for the large number of rescuers in such a confined space. The rescue work was carried on for a period of over 9 hours before Beaumont was freed. During the whole time the roof continued to fall; in fact the position at one time was so grave that the Manager asked Dr. Fox if he would amputate Beaumont’s leg so as to free him. The Doctor after examining the place said it was too restricted to perform the operation.

Throughout the whole of the time the trapped man displayed wonderful fortitude and occasionally assisted the rescuers in passing stones back.

Source: 1931 Mines Inspectors Report