Fatal Accident No 50

Nottingham Journal Wednesday 03-10-1928

Coal Pick Injury Leads To Death of Gedling Miner

“Accidental death” due to blood poisoning following an injury received in the pit, was the verdict yesterday, on George William Bingham, 40, miner of 125, Haywood Road, Mapperley, who died in hospital on Monday. Bingham a stallman at Gedling Colliery hurt his leg above the knee on 31st July, with a pick, getting home he had the injury bathed by his wife, and treated with Boracic Lint, but three or four days afterwards the leg became worse and on 10th August he was admitted to hospital for treatment. The point of the pick according to a workmate named Bradley went into Bingham’s leg when it slipped off the face of the coal, the wound bled very little. Mr J Hancock representing the Nottinghamshire Miners Industrial Union of which Bingham was a member, elicited from Bradley that he thought Bingham must have been trying to get some dirt away from the roof, when the accident occurred, and that more came down than expected knocking the pick down onto his leg.

Fatal Accident No 51

South Nottinghamshire Echo Thursday 02-02-1929

Gedling Miners Sad End

An inquest was held at the Nottingham General Hospital on Tuesday concerning the death of George Withnall, aged 59, Gedling Road, Carlton. The deceased was badly injured by a fall of fall of roof in the Gedling Colliery on January 7th, where he was a stall man, and was at once removed to the Nottingham General Hospital, were it was found that he had sustained serious abdominal injuries, which were the cause of death. William Henry Orridge, of High Street, Basford, told the City Coroner that he was working in the same stall as the deceased at the time of the accident. They were both engaged in holing the coal and had removed dirt to the depth of two feet, and extending for about nine feet. The coal was spragged, and he suddenly heard the deceased shout “oh” and found him pinned against a prop. A large piece of coal had fall off the face which was an unusual occurrence in the pit. It was stated that the deceased was a very careful man, and had long experience in the pit. Before he died Withnall told his brother it was a pure accident. He died in the Hospital on Monday following intestinal obstruction following abdominal injuries. The jury expressed the opinion that everything had been done in the pit to ensure safety and returned a verdict of “Accidental death” The internment will take place in the Gedling Cemetery on Saturday afternoon at 2-45pm preceded by a service at the Wesleyan Chapel, Carlton at two o clock.

Fatal Accident No 52

South Nottinghamshire Echo W/E 24-08-1929

Gedling Pit Fatality - Basford Miner Killed by fall of roof

The Deputy Coroner (Col .H. Bradwell) held an inquest at the Fox and Hounds, Carlton on Monday, concerning the death of Albert Inger, aged 40, a married man with five children, of 20, Althorp Grove, Vernon Avenue, Basford, who was killed by a fall of stone in Gedling Colliery. Harry Carter, of 65, Randolph Street, Carlton Road, Nottingham, a dayman in No 402 stall at the Gedling pit, said that on the previous Tuesday he was working in that stall, of which Inger was one of the chargeman. At about 1-35pm he was filling coal on to a conveyor, and three or four yards away Inger was setting, or preparing to set a bar to the roof at the coal face. “I heard a fall of roof” continued Carter and I called out to Inger “are you alright Albert” but I got no reply and on going to the place I saw that a stone weighing about one and a half hundred weight had fallen from the roof. I called for assistance and pulled the stone off him. First aid was rendered but he died before we got to the surface. John William Peet, a deputy living at Arnold, who was called just after the accident, said a quantity of stone had fallen from between two slips. When he had made his inspection some time earlier there was nothing unusual. The Coroner; is this a good roof? Fairly good. Do you have much trouble there? Not in that particular place. The jury returned a verdict that Inger was killed by a fall of stone and expressed sympathy with his family. Mr F Hancock (the General Manager at the Colliery spoke to Inger being a good workman. There was also present at the inquest Mr Richard Gascoyne (Miners Industrial Union) Messrs, F H Jessop and G Harrison (Colliery Owners Indemnity Company) Mr R Price (National Association of Colliery Deputies) and Mr R Yates (HM Inspector of Mines)

Fatal Accident No 53

South Nott’s Echo Saturday12-10-1929

Gedling Pit Fatality - Arnold Man Knocked Down and Killed

An inquest was held at the Baptist Schoolroom, Front Street, Arnold, on Tuesday, by the District Coroner, (Col. H Bradwell) concerning the death of Edward Frederick Wheatley, aged 55, of 29, Worrell Street, Arnold, who was killed last Saturday morning whilst at work at the Gedling Colliery. Mr. F. Hancock manager and Mr. T.H. Jessop represented the company owning the Gedling Colliery, while others present were Mr. B. Smith. (Nott’s Miners Industrial Union) and Mr. R. Yates. (HM Inspector of Mines). James Nicholson, of Spout Lane, Arnold, said he was the chargeman at the Mapperley dirt tip and responsible for the men working there. They started at about 6am last Saturday. A wire rope brought the wagons of to the top of the tip, and after being emptied took them back to the colliery, the ropes being controlled by the engine. He was below the bend, and Wheatley was at the top end where he chained the wagons down. Without any warning the dolly carrying the rope broke causing the rope to slip off. One of the men shouted “Come here Jimmy, its caught Wheatley”. Witness at once went to the spot found that Wheatley was seriously injured. It was the first time the dolly had used been since resetting and the timber was sound. Witness was satisfied that everything was alright. Deceased was inside the bend when the accident happened, and he heard Wheatley warn other people that they should not be there. John Anson, 8, Salop Street, Daybrook, labourer, said he assisted in removing and fixing the dolly. The ground was solid and the sprags were put in as deep as usual, as soon as the dolly broke Wheatley was missed. He thought deceased had been in the cabin after following the wagons down, they had their snap in the cabin. Witness had been warned by Wheatley about the dangers of being inside the bend. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”, and suggested that the cabin be moved if possible, to a safe side of the road. Mr, Hancock said that the cabin was in the middle of the tip, and if removed to the other side it would place more men in danger than at present.

Fatal Accident No 54

South Nott’s Echo Saturday 18-04-1931

Daybrook Miner Killed - Fall of Roof at Gedling Colliery

Walter Ernest Moore, aged 38, a miner of 36, Sherbrooke Road, Daybrook, was killed at the Gedling Colliery when a fall occurred on Monday night. The inquest held by the County Coroner (Leiut. Col. H. Bradwell) on Wednesday afternoon at the Arnold Council Offices. Mr. R Yates HM Mines Inspector was present as also were Mr, F H Jessop (representing the Digby Colliery Company), Mr, R Gascoyne (Nott’s Miners Industrial Union) and Mr. Nat Buxton (workman’s inspector). Willoughby Smith, a brother in law of Moore’s said the latter left a widow and three children. The accident was described by Joseph Tibbens, a coal face worker who was working with Moore building a pack in the mine. A portion of the roof caved in, burying Moore under two or three tons of debris. And he (Tibbens) was also partly buried. It was discovered that there had been a loose slip which could not be detected beforehand. The stall they were working in was well timbered and appeared to be safe when examined. Thomas Beer, deputy of “Ormscliffe) Main Road, Gedling, said he was satisfied there was sufficient timber set, Moore died shortly after being liberated. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and expressed sympathy with the relatives.

Fatal Accident No 55

South Nott’s Echo Saturday 02-05-1931

Killed by a fall of Roof

William Henry Withnall, aged 65, of 67, Westdale Lane, Carlton died at the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday from the effects of injuries received in an accident at the Gedling Colliery, on the previous Thursday. At the inquest on Tuesday, Henry Taylor Farnsworth, of 15, Chaworth Road, Colwick, stated that Withnall had been ripping rock off the sides of the road just before he, and a man named Bailey were buried by rock weighing five or six hundredweight. In Witnesses opinion it was a pure accident. Thomas Banks, a deputy of 60, Willow Road Carlton, who examined the place an hour before the accident described as then perfectly safe. Bailey was not seriously injured. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

N.B. Mr Withnall was the elder brother of accident victim No 51 Mr George Withnall.

Fatal accident No 56

South Nott’s Echo Saturday 12-09-1931

Buried under Twenty Tons of roof at Gedling Colliery

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned at the inquest which was held on Saturday at the Fox and Hounds, Carlton, by Col. H. Bradwell (County Coroner) who sat with a jury. Identification evidence was given by Herbert Mitchell Gregson, (son of the deceased, John Thomas Gregson) of 5, Redland Avenue, Carlton. Albert Edward Henstock, of 84, Main Street, Bulwell said that he and Gregson were walking the main haulage road when an empty truck became derailed. The truck brought down a roof prop and from fifteen to twenty tons of the roof fell on Gregson. The fall missed witness, who added he quickly stepped back and crouched down. It took a rescue party half an hour to reach Gregson who was then dead with a steel girder across his chest. John William Peet, of Furlong Street, Arnold, a deputy at the Colliery said the twenty minutes before the accident he had examined the roof and found all in order. The main party had gone to the coal face, but he had asked Gregson to stay behind, and he was on his way when the accident happened.

N.B. Mr. Gregson’s son Herbert was an undermanager in the Low Hazel seam from 1929-34

Fatal Accident No 57

South Nott’s Echo Saturday 24-10-1931

Pit Lad Fatally Injured

A miner employed at the Gedling Colliery, named Francis Henry Stout, aged 16, of 48, Saville Street, Hyson Green, was trapped beneath a truck on 8th October, and he subsequently died from his injuries. An inquest was held on Monday when Frank Hancock, manager of the pit, said at the time of the accident Stout had taken empty tubs to the coal face and was coming out with three full trams. Levi Scotney, haulage corporal of 2, Wayford Terrace, Bulwell, said that at the point where the accident happened, Stout would have to stoop to pull out the scotches, and move the points if necessary. After the accident witness examined the tubs, and found that the scotches were still on the tubs and the points had not been changed. The boy was lying with his head and shoulders trapped beneath the leading truck. The tubs were not on a gradient and if the scotches had been removed would not have moved forward. Witness could not account for the accident. A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded.