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Joe Mullarkey Would Like Some Help
Maypole Disaster 1908

In Memory of those who died in the 1908 Maypole Pit Disaster


Revd June Steventon I am considering a special service in 2008 to mark the centenary.
Diana & Mark James Walkden lost his life in the Maypole Disaster 1908
Don Battley My wife's grandfather Edwin Nelson was the assistant manager
Wendy Milner Austin Devaney


  From: Diana & Mark
Sent: 18 June 2005
Subject: James Walkden lost his life in the Maypole Disaster 1908

My Great Grandfather James Walkden lost his life in the Maypole Disaster 1908.

We have the original postcard depicting the photos of the "men who lost their lives" and am wondering what year this post card was issued?

Diana Farrell
Victoria , BC
 Canada

Hopefully someone can determine the date of this postcard's production.

From: Ken Keen
Sent: 25 September 2007

Hello.
Diana and Mark of Victoria, BC, Canada have requested information on the postcard of the Maypole Colliery explosion on 8th August 1908 in Wigan. England. (See above)

The postcard was produced by Warner Gothard of 6 Eldon Street, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England within about ten days of the event taking place, Warner Gothard is described as a "photographic artist" and the disaster montage postcard was his speciality and produced between the years of 1908 to 1916. He had studios in Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Halifax and Dewsbury.

The victims were often shown in the clothes that they were married in as these were the photographs which were readily obtained from the family of the deceased.

Just for information, Warner Gothard produced many postcards of mining disasters between the years of 1905 and 1916 you may be familiar with them, the general theme was a scene of the colliery with the photographs of the deceased and sometimes the rescuers, postcards were published of the explosions or fires at:-

  • Glebe colliery, Washington, Durham.
  • Barrow colliery Barnsley.
  • Wharncliffe Silkstone colliery, Barnsley.
  • West Stanley colliery, Durham.
  • Hamstead colliery, Birmingham.
  • White Lea company owned by Henry Ellison who were manufacturing Lyddite, an explosive chemical used in artillery shells in WW1.
  • Heckmondwike and Hoyland Silkstone colliery, Barnsley.

These postcards sometimes turn up on Ebay.

Regards,
Ken Keen
(Local Historian), Barnsley, Yorkshire, England


  From: Wendy Milner
Sent: 03 March 2005
Subject: Austin Devaney

I grew up with the stories of my mother's Uncle Avie who died in the Maypole Pit Disaster.  It was not until about 1983 that I had a chance to take my mother and her older Brother to see if we could find anything in Wigan about the event and found out that the 75th anniversary had been celebrated shortly before.  We were given directions at the library and were able to visit the site, the house in Platt Bridge, where he had lodged, and the churchyard where he was honoured on the monument.  Unfortunately we also discovered that his name was spelt incorrectly as Devanney.  On your list the v has been omitted so that the name now says Deanney.Up to that time my mother and uncle had no idea that so many of the men were from Mayo.  My grandmother's family were from between Claremorris and Knock at a place they referred to as 'the Line'.  It is good to know that this information is now available on the internet but would it be possible to amend the name so that if anybody was researching the site they could find him, Deanney looks quite different to Devaney.  Incidentally Austin's brother in Boston called his son Austin, and his sister's son in Milton NH called his son Austin also.  The first of these has passed away but the second is now in his 60's.

Thank you,
I'm glad I found the site
Wendy Milner


  From: Don Battley
Sent: 09 April 2005
Subject: My wife's grandfather Edwin Nelson was the assistant manager

Thank you for your informative pages on this disaster.

My wife's grandfather Edwin Nelson was the assistant manager on the day and led the resue team into the mine. He was one of those awarded the medal (which is still in the family).

Do you have any information on the six special medals that were given by the company to the mine rescuers?

The Mining Museum librarian did not know of them (and they were not awarded the Edward Medal).

We now know that Edwin (often referred to as Edward) Nelson was given a presentation inscribed watch by the company in recognition of his efforts on the 18th August 1908 , but we have no evidence of a medal apart from 'family memory'. Presumably someone somewhere has a record of the six awardees? Possibly the Mining Rescue organisation??

I have also read the official legal report of the Coroner's Inquest (including Edwin Nelson's testimony) and have a copy of the Report of Inspector of Mines after the Coroner's verdict was made.

His brother Herbert Nelson was amongst the dead.

Edwin and his family emigrated to a mine managing position in New Zealand in 1911.

We hope to visit the area in June this year.

Don Battley and Eleanor Battley (nee Nelson) from New Zealand .
04 July 2005
We actually went to the site last week to photograph it, and to view where Edwin Nelson lived in Abram, and we also visited the National Mining Museum to investigate further.



  From: JUNE STEVENTON
Sent: 22 July 2005
Subject: I am considering a special service in 2008 to mark the centenary.
Hi
My name is Revd June Steventon and I am the Vicar of Abram and Bickershaw.
I would like to contact Joe Mullarkey who, on your site, has been asking for information.
Abram Parish Churchyard

As the Memorial is in Abram Churchyard I have begun to think about having a special service in 2008 to mark the centenary.

If I could link with anyone else who is thinking of doing something, then I think that would be a good idea. Could you let me have the email address of Joe Mullarkey?
Many Thanks
June Steventone



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