Podmore Hall, Minnie Disaster - 1918
Memorial Recalls Victims
Fathers and sons who died in North Staffordshire's worst ever pit disaster were remembered with the unveiling of a new memorial in the 86th anniversary year. Almost 200 people gathered at the Minnie Pit site, Halmerend, to remember the 155 men and boys who perished in the explosion on
12th January 1918.
The pit wheel monument was unveiled on Monday 12th January 2004, the anniversary of the disaster. Community leaders attended the event to commemorate those who lost their lives in the massive underground explosion, which ripped the colliery apart, burying fathers and sons alive. I believe it was the longest rescue and recovery job ever done, using continuously, self-contained breathing apparatus. The last body being recovered 19 months after the explosion.
Newcastle deputy mayor Freda Myatt unveiled the memorial, which was paid for from a Lottery grant of £1.400. Archdeacon Godfrey Stone conducted the service.
Youngsters from Heathcote Primary School composed and read poems for the occasion, while pupils from Thomas Boughey High School read out the names and ages of all the men and boys who died. On the day of the disaster fewer than 100 of the 247 miners working on that day came up alive.
An exhibiting on mining was displayed by Apedale Mining Museum at an event organised by the Halmerend Wildlife Trust. Trust chairman, Ike Williams, aged 79 said; it was a brilliant day, and so pleased so many people had turned up to pay tribute to the miners who lost their lives. It is important to remember our heritage and where we come from.
Forty-eight boys died under the age of 17 and 67 women were left widowed. It is important that we remember them.
Names of Men and Boys Killed
| F. Aldersea - age 14 |
| Joshua Amson aged 14 years, haluage |
| H. Ashley - age 40 |
| John Austin aged 41 years, loader |
| G. Baddeley - age 14 |
| T. Bailey - age 42 |
| G. Bailey - age 51 |
| John Barlow aged 18 years, loader |
| J. Barnett - age 34 |
| Joe Bateman aged 32 years, collier |
| Alfred Beckett aged 35 years, shifter |
| Francis Beech aged 15 years, haulage |
| Peter Benson aged 14 years, haulage |
| Arthur Birkin aged 14 years, haulage |
| Daniel Brayford aged 16 years, haulage |
| C. Brindley - age 49 |
| Charles Broad aged 32 years, collier |
| A. Broadbent - age 14 |
| J. Broadbent - age 15 |
| Bert Brockley aged 14 years, haulage |
| S. Brockley aged 19 years, haulage |
| George Browning aged 59 years, ropeman |
| Jabez Burgess aged 20 years, loder |
| George Burgess aged 42 years, collier |
| David Burgess aged 44 years, collier |
| Arnold Byatt aged 17 years, haulage |
| F. Cartledge aged 32 years, collier |
| J. Cartwright - age 35 |
| Thomas Challinor aged 15 years, haulage |
| Thomas Cope aged 16 years, haulage |
| E. Cork - age 46 |
| F. Cornes - age 16 |
| H. Dale - age 54 |
| Enoc Daniels aged 38 years, pumpman |
| John R. Davies aged 18 years, haulage |
| William Davies aged 20 years, haulage |
| Jesse Dean aged 26 years, collier |
| John Dean aged 27 years, collier |
| Henry Dean aged 32 years, collier |
| Hugh Doorboy, Birchenwood Rescue Team |
| Ralph Dowling aged 26 years, loader |
| Edward Downing aged 44 years, fireman |
| H. Eden - age 23 |
| Fred Edgeley aged 16 years, haulage |
| E. Farrall - age 24 |
| William Genders aged 28 years collier |
| W. Gilbert - age 39 |
| O. Green - age 14 |
| A. Green - age 16 |
| William H. Green aged 45 years, fireman |
| J. Hampson - age 14 |
| A. Harrison - age 14 |
| F. Harrison - age 15 |
| Reg Harrison aged 15 years, haulage |
| Ernest Harrison aged 20 years, loader |
| H. Harrison - age 21 |
| Job Harrison age 38 years, collier |
| John Harrison aged 28 years, collier |
| A. Harrison - age 27 |
| B. Harrison - age 33 |
| A. Henshall - age 21 |
| R. Holland - age 15 |
| R. Holland - age 18 |
| Bernard Holland aged 23 years, loader |
| Elijah Holland jnr. aged 30 years, collier |
| William Hollier aged 42 years, collier |
| F. Howell - age 39 |
| Charles Hulse aged 15 years, haulage |
| Percy Hulse aged 23 years, loader |
| John Hulse aged 31 years, collier |
| W. Ing - age 34 |
| Ernest Jebb aged 20 years, loader |
| P. Jebb - age 23 |
| G. Jebb - age 30 |
| J. Johnson - age 14 |
| E. Johnson - age 15 |
| F. Johnson - age 17 |
| G. Johnson - age 28 |
| C. Johnson - age 32 |
| B. Johnson - age 37 |
| James Jones aged 16 years, haluage |
| Ben Jones aged 19 years, haulage |
| F. Jones - age 24 |
| D. Jones - age 26 |
| C. Jones - age 26 |
| Henry Jones aged 36 years, collier |
| E. Jones - age 43 |
| T. Jones - age 45 |
| William Kestervan age 15 years, haulage |
| A. Kirkham - age 14 |
| Joseph Lear aged 26 years, loader |
| John Lee aged 16 years, haulage |
| Eli Lee aged 17 years, haulage |
| P. Leek - age 23 |
| Dan Leighton aged 39 years, collier |
| Charles Leighton aged 45 years, fireman |
| G. Lightfoot - age 38 |
| G. Lockett - age 14 |
| A. Lockett - age 14 |
| R. Lockett - age 51 |
| John Madew aged 42 years, collier |
| Joseph Mayer aged 16 years, haulage |
| Thoms Morgan aged 44 years, collier |
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On the right Archdeacon Godfrey Stone
Middle Newcastle Deputy Mayor Freda Myatt
next to her Ike Williams
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Pupils From Sir Thomas Boughey High School
Read Out The Victims Names
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Pupils From Heathcote Primary School
Composed And Read Poems.
| Charles Platt aged 35 years, ropeman |
| J. Platt - age 24 |
| Ralph Pointon aged 16 years, haulage |
| William Pointon aged 15 years, haulage |
| R. Pointon - age 16 |
| G. W. Pointon - age 23 |
| Arthur Pointon aged 24 years, roadman |
| Len Pointon aged 30 years, collier |
| T. Poole Jnr - age 25 |
| T. Poole Snr - age 49 |
| Arthur Ratcliffe aged 20 years, loader |
| William Ratcliffe aged 32 years, collier |
| Fred Rhodes aged 15 years, haulage |
| S. Rhodes Jnr - age 17 |
| John Richardson aged 50 years, shifter |
| W. Richardson aged 47 years, collier |
| S. Richardson aged 56 years, hooker |
| E. Riley - age 26 |
| Albert Roberts aged 21 years, loader |
| George Rowley aged 18 years, haulage |
| Lionel Rowley aged 19 years, haulage |
| Vincent Rowley aged 20 years, engineman |
| Fred Rowley aged 25 years, collier |
| John Rowley aged 31 years, collier |
| A. Rowley - age 37 |
| J. Rowley - age 42 |
| Samuel Rowley aged 62 years, shifter |
| P. Salmon - age 14 |
| Wilmot Scrivens aged 19 years, haulage |
| Thomas Sherratt aged 65 years, ostler |
| J. H. Smith - age 16 |
| W. H. Smith - age 21 |
| Bernard Spode aged 14 years, haulage |
| G. Steele - age 26 |
| R. Steele - age 31 |
| W. Stubbs - age 14 |
| H. Sumnall - age 16 |
| W. Swann - age 19 |
| Leonard Taylor aged 31 years, collier |
| Thomas Timmiss aged 50 years, shifter |
| F. Tipper - age 47 |
| F. Tomkinson - age 15 |
| A. Wainwright - age 41 |
| Harry Wareham aged 14 years, haulage |
| E. C. Webb - age 15 |
| George Webb - aged 35 years, loader |
| Thomas West aged 30 years, collier |
| James Wilcox aged 21 years, loader |
| Henry Wilshaw aged 21 years, loader |
| Fred Woodvine aged 14 years, haulage |
| Jno Harrison - age 28 |
| Job Harrison - age 38 |
| D Whitehurst - age 38 |
Photographs by John Lumsdon |
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