60th Anniversary of Easington Colliery Mining Disaster
Blog / June 7, 2011 / 1 Comment
On 29th May 1951 Easington Colliery suffered the worst mining accident in the history of the National Coal Board. The explosion claimed the lives of 81 miners. The final death toll would be made worse when two members of the rescue team lost their lives trying to save those trapped underground. The Colliery was the main employer in Easington and no family would be left untouched by the tragic consequences of the disaster.
On Tuesday, 29th May at 4:35am a spark from a coal cutting machine ignited a pocket of gas sending a wall of fire throughout the mine, fuelled by excess coal dust. By a cruel trick of fate the explosion occurred just as the day shift was relieving the night shift.
The first rescue team arrived from the Miners Rescue station at Houghton-le-Spring amid some confusion over the number of miners involved in the disaster. Having descended the shaft to begin the rescue, the Houghton Rescue team made it as far as the first major roof fall and could go no further.
10th North Low Main sub-return after 1951 disaster. Easington Colliery, 1954 (Photos courtesy of Beamish)
Further rescue teams from around the district quickly descended on Easington to help with the rescue of their colleagues. The miners were trapped 900 feet underground and the rescuers toiled in nonstop shifts to move tons of rocks and debris that blocked their way to the trapped miners.
By early afternoon the rescuers had driven through more than 300 yards of debris. Mining officials said the coal seam where it was believed the majority of men were still trapped was another 700 yards. Fresh air was being forced through neighbouring seams in the hope it would filter through to the men.
Crowds waiting in the streets for news of the colliery disaster, Easington, 1st June 1951 (Photos courtesy of Beamish)
However, as the rescuers went further into the mine they were confronted by a rush of poisonous air as they moved mounds of earth to reach those trapped.
On 30th May Lord Hyndley, Chair of the National Coal Board, confirmed the worst fears of friends and family
“Though everything has been done and is still being done at the pit, there is now no hope of any of the entombed miners being alive”
There were six emergency phones in the blast area where the men had been working but no calls came through. The Notice Board where names of survivors would be posted remained tragically bare.
News of the Mining Disaster brought Easington to national prominence. Relatives waiting for information at the pit were joined by cabinet ministers and messages of condolence were sent from around the world, including from King George VI. The telegram read,
“The Queen and I have learned with the deepest distress of the explosion at Easington Colliery, and of the severe loss of life there. We send our heartfelt sympathy to those who have lost husbands and sons.”
However, Easington soon fell from the headlines and the Colliery was back in production before the last body had been recovered.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Easington Colliery Miners’ Disaster Fund was established with the first donation from Manny Shinwell, Minister of Defence and M.P. for Easington.
A disaster fund was set up for relatives of the deceased. Donations from across the nation and around the world raised £180,000, a massive amount for those days,
All widows and children of the deceased miners and rescuers were to be cared for. Each child was to be provided for until the age of 21. In many cases this involved funding the child through education and college.
The administrators of this fund did not receive a penny for their work. A Garden of Remembrance was created in Easington Colliery Cemetery for those who lost their lives in the disaster. A Memorial Avenue was also created with a tree planted for each of those who lost their lives
Sixty years after the great mining disaster in N.C.B history Easington remembers the 83 men. Hundreds of people attended the service to mark the tragedy.
The dedicated memorial garden at the former colliery site was blessed by the Bishop of Jarrow, The Right Reverend Mark Bryant and Alan Cummings, Secretary of Easington branch of the NUM gave a moving address to those gathered.
At the miner’s mass grave in Easington Colliery Cemetery floral tributes were laid and I was honoured to unveil a miner’s lamp in memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Durham Miners Gala, 21st July 1951 – Easington Public Band (Photos courtesy of Beamish)
Less than two months after the disaster Easington Colliery Band gathered in for the Durham Miners Gala. A pennant taken from a wreath sent from the miners of Yugoslavia was hung from the banner.
It will be an honour and a privilege to march alongside Easington banner and colliery band at this year’s Durham Miners Gala. The 127th Gala to be held on Saturday 9th July 2011 will be another opportunity to remember and commemorate those who paid too high a price for coal.
END.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF BEAMISH MUSEUM
For more information on Easington Mining Disaster:
Beamish, People’s Collection, Easington Colliery Disaster – http://collections.beamish.org.uk/pages/easingtondisaster
Beamish Museum Photographs – www.flickr.com/photos/beamishmuseum/tags/1951/
Durham Mining Museum - www.dmm.org.uk/names/n1951-01.htm
Easington Remembers – www.eastdurham.co.uk/easington1951/disaster.htm
Peterlee Mail, Monday 30th May 2011 – Community Marks Pit Disaster – http://www.peterleemail.co.uk/news/local/community_marks_pit_disaster_1_3430124
Here is a small addition, but there is little to add expects one's memories and the continuing sadness – http://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2011/05...