In the early 20th century coal was very important because it powered all technology – much like oil today. Coal was Britain’s biggest industry.

Many described Britain as a land of ‘Two Nations’.

The rich who enjoyed the wealth and power brought by trade and industry, driven by coal…

… and the workers, making the factory goods and digging the coal.

Coal miners worked in some of the worst conditions of all Coal miners worked in some of the worst conditions of all. In places like South Wales, Kent, South Yorkshire and the North-East they lived in villages in strong communities.

They kept Britain rich … … at great cost. http://www. healeyhero

1812 Felling explosion. A coal dust explosion, 92 men and boys were killed, the boys being 7 and 8 years of age. 1843, Broadsfield Colliery in Fenton. A firedamp explosion occurred in which 9 lives were lost. 1844, September. Haswell Colliery. 95 men were killed in a massive explosion. 1855 24th May. Oldfield Colliery in Fenton, North Staffordshire 7 killed and several injured by an explosion. 1862, 16th January, New Hartley Pit Disaster. 204 killed, including children as young as 10. (1861. Clay Cross Colliery. 11th June, mine flooded, twenty three lives lost. 1866, Talke o' the Hill. 13th Dec 89 men and boys were killed in an explosion. 1870,Sheriff Pit, Silverdale , an explosion occurred at Sheriff Pit, which killed 19 men. 1871. Rennishaw Park. 10th January, explosion, twenty seven killed, twelve injured. 1871, 6th. September. Moss Colliery Disaster. 1874. Underwood Pit, 12th April 1875. 30th April, Bunker's Hill Colliery 43 miners killed by an explosion 1878 11th September, Prince of Wales, Abercarn. 325 men and boys working underground when a massive explosion ripped through the workings, 1880. Seaham Colliery explosion and fire, 164 men lost their lives 1881. 7th Feb, Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Explosion Twenty-one persons were 1882. 7th November, Parkhouse Colliery,Catty Pit as it was better known. explosion, forty five lives lost. 1889, 16th October Mossfield Colliery Explosion, 64 were killed along with 16 pit ponies. 1895,14th January, Diglake Colliery in North Staffordshire with the loss of 77 lives. 1895, 11th November. Winning Colliery, explosion, seven lives lost. 1901, 24th May, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan81 killed. 1904. Boythorpe Lane Colliery, 20th October, explosion. 1905, 10th March, Cambrian. Clydach Vale, Glamorgan33 killed. 1905, 11th July, National, Wattstown, Glamorgan 119 killed. 1906, 14th October, Wingate Grange, Durham 25 killed. 1908, 4th March, Hamstead, Staffordshire 26 killed. 1908, 18th August, Maypole, Wigan, Lancashire 76 killed. 1909, 16th February, West Stanley, Durham 168 killed. 1909, 29th October, Darran, Glamorgan 27 killed. 1910, 11th May, Wellington, Whitehaven, Cumberland 136 killed. 1910, 4th December, Kemberton Pit, Shropshire 7 killed. 1910, 21st December,Pretoria Pit at Westhoughton, Lancashire 344 killed.

1911. Southgate Colliery, 22nd November,cage accident, three killed, nine injured. 1912, 9th July, Cadeby Main, Yorkshire 88 killed. 1913, 14th October, Universal, Senghenydd, Glamorgan 439 killed. 1915, 15th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire 9 killed. 1915, 25th February, New Hem Heath, Chesterton 12 killed. 1918, 12th January, Minnie Pit, Podmore Hall, Staffordshire 155 killed. 1919. Oxcroft Colliery. 6th April, six killed, seven injured. 1919, 20th October, Levant Tin Mine, Cornwall 31 killed. 1922. Whittington Opencast. 22nd June, 3 men gassed, two died. 1922, 5th September, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.1. 39 killed. 1923, 28th July, Maltby, Yorkshire 27 killed. 1923, 25th September, Redding, Falkirk, Stirlingshire 40 killed. 1925, 30th March, View Pit, Montagu Colliery, Northumberland 38 killed. 1925, 18th December, Birchenwood, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire 7 killed. 1927, 1st March, Marine, Monmouthshire 52 killed. 1927, 13th December, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.2. 4 killed. 1928, 3rd January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.3. 14 killed. 1928. Wallsend Colliery, 10th January, explosion. 1928, 12th. February, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland. 13 killed. (explosion). 1928, 28th. November. Wernbwll Colliery. 7 killed. (explosion). 1929, 18th. March. Coombs Wood Colliery. 8 killed. (fire). 1929.10th. July. Milfraen Colliery, Blaenavon. 9 killed. (explosion). 1930, 24th. February. Wath Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion). 1930, 26th. February. Lyme Pit, Lancashire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1930, 10th. March. Allerton Bywater Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1930, 30th. August. Auchinraith Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion). 1930, 1st. October. Grove Colliery,(Brownhills), Staffordshire. 14 killed. (explosion). 1930, 12th. December. Houghton Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (explosion). 1931, 29th January, Haig Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland No.4. 27 killed. 1931, 20th November, Bentley, Yorkshire 45 killed. 1931, November, Bowhill Colliery. Scotland. 10 killed. (explosion) 1932. 25th. January. Llwynypia (Scotch) Colliery, Glamorgan. 11 killed. (explosion). 1932, 10th. October. Bickershaw, No. 3 Pit, Lancashire. 19 killed. (shaft accident). 1932, 12th November, Edge Green Number 9, Garswood Hall, Lancashire 27 killed.

1932, 16th. November. Cardowan Colliery. 11 killed. (explosion) 1932, 16th. November. Cardowan Colliery. 11 killed. (explosion). 1933, 16th. May. West Cannock Colliery, Staffordshire. 6 killed. (explosion). 1933. Grassmoor Colliery, 19th November, explosion, fourteen killed, eight injured. 1934, 22nd September, Gresford, Denbighshire265 killed. 1934, 26th. July. Bilsthorpe Colliery, Nottinghamshire. 9 killed. (explosion). 1935. Glapwell Colliery. 10th September, six trapped, one died, three hospitalised. 1935, 12th. September. North Gawber (Lidgett), Yorkshire. 19 killed. (explosion). 1936, 6th August, Wharncliffe, Woodmoore Colliery, Yorkshire 58 killed. 1937. Winterbank Pit, (Wincobank) South Normanton,Derbyshire 15th February, explosion, 7 killed, 4 injured, one died later. (Thanks to Albert Cosford for this information) 1937, 21st January, Markham No.1 (Blackshale) Derbyshire 9 killed. 1937, 2nd July, Holditch, Staffordshire 30 killed. 1937. Turnoak Colliery, 10th October, seven boys injured after throwing a firework down the shaft. 1938, 30th. January. Dumbreck Colliery. 9 killed. (fire). 1938. Markham Nol Colliery, 10th May, explosion seventy nine lives Lost, thirty eight injured. 1938. Creswell Colliery. 2nd June, tub train accident, 3 died and a number injured. 1939, 28th October, Valleyfield, Fife 35 killed. 1939. Warsop Main Colliery. December 20th, 1,850 ton of roof collapsed and crushed 6 men to death. 1940, 21st March, Mossfield, Longton 11 killed. 1940, 4th. December. Sacriston Colliery, Durham. 5 killed. (fall of stone). 1941, 3rd. June. William Pit, Durham. 12 killed. (explosion). 1941, 29th. July. Crigglestone Colliery, Yorkshire. 22 killed. (explosion) 1942, 1st January, Sneyd, Staffordshire 57 killed. 1942, 16th. February. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 13 killed. (explosion). 1942, 26th. June. Murton Colliery, Durham. 13 killed. (explosion). 1945, 4th March. Manvers Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1945 Royal Air Force storage depot Fauld 1946, 9th. December. Harrington No. 10, Workington. Durham. 15 killed. (explosion). 1947, 10th. January. Burngrange Colliery. Nos. 1 and 2. 15 Killed. (explosion). 1947, 7th. May. Barnsley Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 9 killed. (explosion). 1947, 15th August, William Pit, Whitehaven, Cumberland 104 killed. 1947, 22nd. August. Louisa Pit, Stanley. Durham. 22 killed. (explosion). 1947, 9th. September. Ingham Colliery, Yorkshire. 12 killed. (explosion).

1949. Bolsover Colliery. April 15th, Mystery explosion, three men killed, two severely injured. 1949 Lyme Colliery in Lancashire. Explosion 2 Boothstown Rescue Station men killed 1950. 7th. September. Knockshinnoch Castle 13 killed by the inrush of water and 116 men were entombed. 1950.26th September Creswell Colliery, Derbyshires worst pit fire. 80 killed. 1951, 29th May, Easington, Durham 81 killed. 1951, 06 Jul Eppleton Explosion 9 killed. 1951, 01 Oct Weetslade Colliery Explosion 18 killed. 1951, 31 Oct Killingworth 1954, 13th January. Glyncorrwg Colliery, Afan Valley. No one was killed but around 24 were burned. 1955, 6th. September. Blaenhirwaun Colliery. 6 killed. (explosion). 1957, 21st. February. Sutton Colliery, Nottinghamshire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1957, 26th. June. Barnburgh Main Colliery, Yorkshire. 6 killed. (explosion). 1957, 19th. November. Kames Colliery, Ayr. 17 killed. (explosion). 1957, 14th. December. Lindsay Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (explosion). 1959, 22nd. April. Walton Colliery, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1959, 18th September, Auchengeich, Lanarkshire47 killed. 1959, 10th. October. Bickershaw Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Lancashire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1960, 28th June, Six Bells, Monmouthshire 45 killed. 1962, 22nd. March. Hapton Valley Colliery. 19 killed. 1962. 12th. April. Tower Colliery, Hirwaun. 9 killed. (explosion). 1965, 17th May, Cambrian, Glamorgan 31 killed. 1966, Lynemouth Colliery 1966, Silverwood Disaster, 10 men, were killed in a paddy mail accident Regards Ken Orton 1966, 21st. October. The Aberfan Disaster. 144 killed, 116 were children. 1973. Markham Pit disaster 30th July 1973. 18 miners were killed and 11 seriously injued. 1967, 9th. September. Michael Colliery, Fife. 9 killed. (fire). 1971. 6th April, Cynheidre Colliery, Five Roads Nr. Llanelli, 6 killed. (outburst of coal/firedamp). 1973 Lofthouse Colliery disaster. 7 killed due to an inrush from old workings. 1973, 10th. May. Seafield Colliery, Fife. 5 killed. (fall of roof). 1973. 30th. July, Markham No2 Colliery, Derbyshire. cage accident, 18 killed. ( 12 severely injured.) 1975, 12th. June, Houghton Main, Yorkshire. 5 killed. (explosion). 1978, 21st. November. Bentley Colliery, Yorkshire. 7 killed. (manriding train derailment). 1979, 18th. March. Golborne Colliery, Lancashire. 10 killed. (explosion)

Causes of the General Strike

The miners’ union, the Miners Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) was strong.

In 1914 the unions of the three other key workers – railwaymen, dockers and transport workers – joined together and agreed to support workers like the miners in their disputes.

Conflict was growing between employers and organised workers.

But then in 1914 war came. All sides agreed to fight the common enemy

Coal was needed for the war effort. There were jobs for all Coal was needed for the war effort. There were jobs for all. Wages went up.

But prices went up too, and some mine owners were making lots of money for themselves. After the war, they wanted to keep making lots of money.

But then in 1925, a major crisis hit the British coal industry. Other countries were selling coal more cheaply on the world market.

Exports went down. Profits went down. The British coal industry was losing a million pounds a month. 400 mines were forced to close.

So the mine owners told the miners: “We’ll cut your wages to what they were 4 years ago… … and we’ll make you work longer hours.”

The miners’ leader replied: “Not a penny off the pay! Not a second on the day!” A.J. Cook, Secretary of the Miners’ Federation.

The mine owners said if the miners didn’t agree, they’d be locked out with no work and no pay.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) represented all the workers in unions – dockers, railwaymen, miners, transport workers etc. They said they would support the miners and refuse to handle coal on trains, on lorries or in the docks.

They also wanted the mines to be nationalised – all run by the government, not by lots of private businesses.

The Conservative government – led by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin – was worried. The government feared a workers’ revolution like the one in Russia 8 years earlier. They weren’t ready to deal with a general strike. They didn’t have clear plans. They didn’t have enough coal stockpiled to use in an emergency. So they needed time…..

… and they bought time by making a deal with the TUC. The Government would pay the mine owners a subsidy so that wages would not have to go down for the time being … … and there would be a Royal Commission led by Sir Herbert Samuel, to look into the problem and produce a report after nine months. Nine months during which the government could prepare itself.

In March 1926 the Samuel Commission reported. It said: “No nationalisation, longer working hours, a pay cut of 13.5%”

In other words, it supported the mine owners. The government and TUC tried to reach agreement …

… but at the beginning of May the mine owners began a lockout … but at the beginning of May the mine owners began a lockout. They hoped poverty and hunger would force the miners to give in.

The TUC were ready to call a strike of two and a half million workers in support of the miners.

What would be the spark to start the General Strike? The leaders of the TUC – Ernest Bevin and Jimmy Thomas – didn’t want to go so far … … but the rank and file members were ready to show solidarity with the miners. What would be the spark to start the General Strike?

Nine Days in May.

NOT A MINUTE ON THE DAY, NOT A PENNY OFF THE PAY!