I was interested to find my granddads name on your site, he was William Moore, and listed as one of the casualties on the commemorative postcard. As you rightly point out he was not in fact killed that day, he had lost his tally and had not reported the fact to the office. He was one of the men who went down after the disaster to remove the bodies; he remained a miner for the rest of his working life and continued to live in Platt Bridge.

He died in 1965 at the age of 77.

Mary Ashton

Hello there,

I have been researching my family history for a couple of years and was aware that my Great Uncle Thomas Harrison perished in the mine. I have recently discovered that his brother William was part of the Rescue team. I noticed that Don and Eleanor Battley referred to a 'medal'. It transpires that my father also named William has his Uncle's original watch and medal stored away.

Is it possible to contact Don and Eleanor.

Regards
Steve

Hi
Just saw your site and I am looking in to it when my wife yells to me her granddad was one of the rescuers at the pit and he was one of the guys awarded a medal.

Also my granddad, I have be told, went back in and pulled out two survivors. He was a collier not an official rescue squad member, but this is all family talk.

The medal is at my mother in laws and I will try to photograph it this week and post it on your site along with a black and white photo of the rescue squad.

Just to let you know also that the site is a big housing estate now and they have named the streets after the dead at the maypole pit disaster in memory of them.

Some people may think that’s bad taste but I think it’s a good gesture

Kind Regards’ Dave

Hi

My name is Tony McDonagh, originally from Mayo and I am writing to you from Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.

My Grand-Father died in the Maypole Disaster in 1908. His name was Anthony McDonagh from Kiltmagh, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

We would be interested in attending the 100 year memorial. Please can you let us have details of the 100 memorial which is being organised?

Kind Regards

Tony McDonagh

Hi there
I am doing some voluntary research for the Local History Library and Archive in St Helens and checked into your website to find out some further information (really to familiarise myself with the event as I am working on a general 1908 Chronology of St Helens and area for the History Library to produce in 2008).

Just thought you might like to know that they have quite a bit of information on this disaster in their local paper archives (which are all held on microfilm and can be viewed at the library itself) - including the reports of the disaster and the inquest in 1909.

I noticed that a 2008 commemoration was mentioned and thought I’d let you know in case it would be of use to you.

Best wishes
Beverley Lawton